The German federal government has welcomed the call of the imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan to lay down arms and dissolve the PKK. A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry spoke of a “historic chance” to break the spiral of terror, violence and retaliation that has persisted for decades.
“A end to violence is the important first step, but further steps are necessary on the way to a sustainable solution for the people in Turkey” the spokesperson explained. This particularly includes respecting and ensuring the cultural and democratic rights of the Kurds in Turkey.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized the central role of the Turkish parliament in shaping a potential peace process. Once-agreed compromise solutions must be anchored verifiably there. The federal government signalled its support for further efforts in this direction: “As the federal government, we are ready to do what we can to support such a process” the spokesperson said.