In a much-anticipated address that many believe could pave the way for a resolution to over four decades of conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish population, the incarcerated Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan urged his supporters on Thursday to cease hostilities and disband the militant group.

“I am calling for the cessation of armed conflict and accept historical responsibility for this appeal,” Ocalan stated during a news conference in Istanbul. He emphasized, “All factions must lay down weapons, and the PKK should disband after organizing a congress to address this issue.”

The 74-year-old leader did not mention the Kurdish-led territory in northeastern Syria, where he is regarded as an ideological figure, while Turkey perceives him as a serious threat. Mazlum Kobane, the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a crucial ally of the Pentagon in combating the Islamic State, confirmed that Ocalan’s appeal was not aimed at his group. “To be clear, this is strictly for the PKK and has nothing to do with us in Syria,” Kobane stated.

Disagreements regarding Syria have historically hindered negotiations, with Turkey insisting that discussions include northeastern Syria, where Turkish forces and allied Sunni groups have conducted a relentless campaign against the self-proclaimed Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria due to its affiliations with the PKK.

However, Ankara appears to be moderating its position as several Arab nations have resisted Turkey’s expanding dominance in Syria, particularly after an al-Qaeda affiliate overthrew Bashar al-Assad and took control on December 8 of the previous year. A sustained shift could signify a substantial victory for the Kurdish people in Syria.

The atmosphere in Istanbul was celebratory, with members of Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish DEM Party taking turns to convey Ocalan’s directives to his proscribed PKK—first in Kurdish and then in Turkish—before an audience that included recently released Kurdish politicians and the mothers of Kurds who had disappeared due to state actions. National television broadcast the conference live.

A large screen displayed a photo of Ocalan, flanked by DEM lawmakers who had visited him on his island prison earlier that day. Dressed in a cherry-colored shirt and a navy blazer, the once robust PKK leader appeared grayer and thinner compared to his last known images from over a decade ago during prior peace negotiations.

A Look Back

In remarks reminiscent of his 1999 trial, where he received a life sentence, Ocalan suggested that the circumstances supporting the PKK’s existence—such as the collapse of socialism in the 1990s—no longer apply, thus “diminishing the foundational significance of the PKK.” He asserted that Kurdish identity is now acknowledged within Turkey and noted progress in freedom of expression, despite the fact that many Kurds expressing nationalist views or displaying Kurdish symbols face prosecution and imprisonment amidst renewed oppression.

Ocalan dismissed the idea of establishing a separate nation, federation, or administrative autonomy, declaring, “There is no substitute for democracy in achieving a political system. A democratic consensus is the sole path forward.” His mention of administrative autonomy could be interpreted as a message to the self-governing administration in northeastern Syria, which both Turkey and Syria’s new Islamist leadership insist must be dismantled.

However, Foza Yusuf, a prominent figure in the Kurdish-led administration, aligned with SDF commander Kobane in asserting that Ocalan’s comments did not pertain to Syria. “His statement reaffirms his strategic insight. We always knew he wouldn’t include us in any arrangement. Our discussions and agreements must occur with Damascus, not Turkey,” Yusuf told Al-Monitor. “This is confirmation that there are no genuine ties between us and the PKK.” This clarity may serve as a double-edged sword, enabling Turkey to continue its offensives against Syrian Kurds even while negotiating peace with its own population.

Reiterating the Turkish government’s narrative that malicious external forces seek to incite division between Turks and Kurds, Ocalan stressed the importance of the “spirit of brotherhood” for survival against dominant powers. He acknowledged President Erdogan and his nationalist ally Devlet Bahceli for creating the environment conducive to current discussions.

In October 2024, Bahceli indicated that secret negotiations with the PKK and the government—first reported by Al-Monitor—were ongoing when he invited Ocalan to parliament, suggesting he should call for disarmament, which echoed Ocalan’s later remarks.

The official response has been subdued, and there was no immediate reaction from the PKK by the time of this article’s publication. Efkan Ala, deputy chairman of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and a significant player in previous failed negotiations in 2015, was among the first to comment.

“The essence of [Ocalan’s] address is for the terrorist group to dissolve itself, and everyone must strive to realize this outcome,” Ala stated on pro-government news channel A Haber. “Should terrorism continue, we are resolved to counter it aggressively,” he added.

Joy and Grief

Thousands gathered in main squares of cities across the predominantly Kurdish southeastern region to watch the news conference unfold. They celebrated and expressed their emotions as Ocalan’s message was delivered. Some attendees were visibly shocked, with many in tears, questioning why Ocalan had relinquished so much without securing any concessions. “There were many tearful people asking why he had yielded so much without reciprocity,” reported local journalist Selim Kurt from Diyarbakir, recognized as the Kurds’ informal capital.

Similar sentiments resonated in Istanbul, prompting DEM lawmaker Sırrı Sureyya Onder to highlight that Ocalan had also emphasized the need for “democratic politics and a legal framework” from Ankara for his followers to disarm and disband.

However, those remarks were not part of the public statement that was announced.

Over 40,000 individuals, primarily PKK combatants, have perished in the conflict that began in 1984 under Ocalan’s leadership, originally aiming to create an independent Kurdish state from parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Since the early 1990s, the rebels have indicated a willingness to settle for local autonomy instead.

The specifics of what the government may have promised in exchange for Ocalan’s appeal are unclear, as negotiations remain confidential. Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that Ocalan has been promised significantly improved living conditions and the potential release of numerous Kurdish political prisoners—including Selahattin Demirtas, Turkey’s most recognized Kurdish politician. Reports suggest that amnesty for PKK fighters not implicated in violence may be on the table, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq has extended asylum offers to senior PKK officials, according to Al-Monitor sources.

A critical initial step for the continuation of peace efforts is a mutually announced ceasefire, as per PKK insiders. There are unverified claims that the PKK may release two high-ranking operatives from Turkey’s national intelligence agency, MIT, who were kidnapped in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Sulaimaniyah province in 2017.

Nevertheless, the road to enduring peace is fraught with challenges, as previous attempts have demonstrated.

Erdogan’s nationalist opponents wasted no time in criticizing Ocalan’s appeal. Ali Sehiroglu, deputy chairman of the far-right Zafer (Victory) Party, pledged in a post on X to halt “this unclear process.”

“We will not allow the [Turkish] republic to be dismantled! We will not permit the Turkish nation to be divided,” declared Musavat Dervisoglu, leader of the nationalist Iyi (Good) Party, in a social media post.

The primary opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has relied on Kurdish support in recent elections, expressed support for Ocalan’s call. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel described the appeal as “significant,” hoping it would resonate with the PKK.

One of Erdogan’s main objectives in reaching out to Ocalan is to create a divide between the CHP and the DEM ahead of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for 2028. Claiming a victory over the PKK—classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union—would significantly boost Erdogan’s standing among nationalists. His overtures to Ocalan, previously labeled a “baby killer,” are meant to win over a sufficient number of Kurdish voters, according to Erdogan’s strategy.

The practicalities of disarmament pose significant challenges. As Aliza Marcus, author of “Blood and Belief: The PKK and the Kurdish Fight for Independence,” noted, “It’s a historic call, but the PKK won’t vanish overnight. Practically speaking, the PKK requires security guarantees to hold a congress, especially a large-scale one, which will necessitate more than just Ocalan’s statement.”

“Moreover, what does ‘dissolve’ actually entail? Thousands of armed fighters are hiding out in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan—the group cannot merely dissolve or disarm without clarification on the future of these individuals. Where will they go? What will they do? Will they have the opportunity to return to Turkey and engage in political processes? Will the KRG permit their settlement in Iraqi Kurdistan? While the PKK is expected to dissolve itself, its members can’t simply vanish,” Marcus clarified.

However, she pointed out that “by dissolving itself, the PKK would essentially grant its local branches, whether in Syria or Iran, the independence they were promised during the parties’ founding in 2003.” “Whether Ankara will accept this is an entirely different matter,” Marcus concluded.