 announcement on Monday that it is disbanding and laying down its arms after more than four decades of armed conflict with #Turkey elicited positive reactions from governments as well as international observers.){kind=link}
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) announcement on Monday that it is disbanding and laying down its arms after more than four decades of armed conflict with the Turkish state elicited positive reactions from governments as well as international observers.
The group, long designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, said it had “completed its historic mission” and would now seek a political resolution to the Kurdish issue through democratic means.
The announcement followed a February appeal from the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who urged PKK members to end the armed conflict and embrace democratic politics.
Öcalan, who has been held in Turkey’s İmralı Prison since 1999, said in a letter that “there is no alternative to democracy” and called for a “democratic consensus” as the way forward.
The PKK’s statement, published by the ANF news agency, came after the group’s 12th congress convened in northern Iraq and formally decided to dissolve its organizational structure.
More than 40,000 people have died in the conflict since the PKK began its insurgency in 1984, initially seeking Kurdish independence before shifting its focus to autonomy and cultural rights.
The European Union welcomed the announcement, calling on “all parties to seize the moment” to work toward a political solution.
“The European Union considers that launching a credible peace process, aiming for a political solution to the Kurdish issue, would be a positive step to achieve a peaceful and sustainable solution,” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said.
Nacho Sánchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, called the disbanding “very welcome and long-awaited news,” saying it offered a historic opportunity for an inclusive political process.
The announcement by the terrorist organization #PKK of its dissolution is very welcome and long-awaited news for
, its people, and beyond. It presents now a historic opportunity for a peaceful & sustainable resolution of the #Kurdish issue through an inclusive political process
— Nacho Sánchez Amor (@NachoSAmor) May 12, 2025
Germany also welcomed the PKK’s decision, calling it an “important step” toward ending a decades-long “cycle of terror and violence.” In a statement posted on X, the German Foreign Ministry urged “full implementation and a political process” to ensure a sustainable resolution.
In Iraq, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani praised the decision, describing it as a demonstration of political maturity that could pave the way for coexistence and regional stability.
Barzani said the Kurdish regional government was ready to support the peace process, calling the moment a chance to “end decades of violence, pain and suffering.”
Speaking in Ankara, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said the disbanding marked “a pivotal moment” not only for Turkey’s internal security but also for regional peace.
Experts warned, however, that significant political change in Turkey would be needed to meet Kurdish demands.
Winthrop Rodgers of Chatham House told BBC the announcement reflected some goodwill on both sides but emphasized that “a major democratic transition” would be required for full Kurdish participation in politics.
“The ball is in Turkey’s court,” Rodgers added.
International media covered the news widely, framing it as a potentially transformative moment in Turkish-Kurdish relations and broader regional dynamics.
Reuters, the BBC, The New York Times and Al Jazeera all described the move as historic, with some outlets noting the possible boost to Turkey’s economic and political stability.
Coverage in European outlets such as Le Monde, Der Spiegel and El Mundo stressed the symbolic weight of ending one of the longest-running armed conflicts in modern Europe.
France 24 quoted PKK executive committee member Duran Kalkan as saying, “This is not the end, it is a new beginning.”
Some reports noted that the move came after unexpected mediation efforts led by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s far-right ally.
No country has yet announced a change in the PKK’s legal status, and Western governments continue to list the group as a terrorist organization.
The group’s future legal and political position remains unclear, as do the prospects for any amnesty or concessions for its fighters.
The fate of Abdullah Öcalan also remains a sensitive issue, with speculation that the disbanding might lead to improved prison conditions or parole, though Turkish officials have not addressed the matter.
A March 1 ceasefire declaration by the PKK, conditional on the establishment of a new legal framework for peace, remains in place.
The group has called for constitutional recognition of Kurdish identity and language rights and a guarantee of political participation.
Whether Ankara responds to these calls remains to be seen.