Tehran – Iran praises the announcement that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will disarm and disband the organization, calling it progression in the sense that it reduces violence and strengthens security in Turkey and the region as a whole.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei issued a statement welcoming the PKK decision on Tuesday, saying it represents a turning point in efforts to resolve decades of armed conflict. “We see this development as a step towards supporting peace and stability, both in Turkey and in the wider regions,” Baguei said, expressing his hope that the full implementation of the PKK declaration will lead to a gentle continued implementation.
The PKK made the announcement following the 12th Parliament held in northern Iraq last Friday. In a statement released on Monday, the group declared the end of all operations carried out in that name, effectively informing the conclusion of the armed campaign against the Turkish state. The parliament is reportedly characterized by what the group described as “historical decisions” that could shape the future of Kurdish-Turkey relations.
According to FIRAT News Agency, a media closely aligned with the group, the parliament contained messages from Abdullah Okaran, the founder and imprisoned leader of the PKK, who has been incarcerated in Turkey since 1999.
Okaran’s appeal was released in February, repeatedly reiterating the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives since the PKK began its rebellion in 1984.