Sun May 11 08:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Kurdish Workers’ Party Announces Historic Decision to End Four-Decade-Long Insurgency
**Ankara, Turkey** – In a significant development that could reshape Turkey’s political and security landscape, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced Friday the conclusion of its 12th congress in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq. The announcement, published by the pro-PKK Firat news agency, follows a call from imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan for “historic decisions” paving the way for the group’s dissolution and the end of its 40-year armed rebellion.
The congress’s outcome, described as “historically significant,” is seen as a rare opportunity to open a new chapter in Turkey’s relationship with its Kurdish minority. The conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives since 1984. While details remain limited pending the release of a full statement, reports suggest Öcalan participated remotely.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking Thursday, expressed confidence that the PKK would disarm and disband, ushering in a “new era.” However, Turkish officials have adopted a cautious approach, awaiting an official statement from the PKK leadership and emphasizing that disarmament must be accompanied by the complete dismantling of the organization’s structure, including its intelligence and security networks. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed the need for a formal declaration and complete cessation of all armed activity.
While the ruling coalition party has expressed optimism, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) maintains a reserved stance, declining to comment publicly. The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), however, welcomed the development as a crucial step towards ending the conflict and called for the establishment of a permanent dialogue based on mutual recognition of rights.
Although no official agreement has been signed between the Turkish state and the PKK, political and security indicators suggest an unspoken understanding may have emerged through back-channel negotiations. Turkey has consistently refused direct communication with the PKK, deeming it a terrorist organization, but recent hints from nationalist figures suggest a potential softening of the hardline stance, particularly regarding Öcalan’s status.
The PKK, while seemingly receptive to ending the conflict, has previously emphasized that any disarmament must include guarantees for Öcalan’s release from prison and lifting restrictions on his political role. Analysts caution against premature optimism, citing the collapse of a previous peace process. While the current environment may be more conducive to a lasting resolution, significant challenges, both internal and external, remain. The complex Kurdish situation in neighboring Iraq and Syria also presents potential obstacles to a lasting peace.
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