A ceasefire has been announced by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) with Turkey. The PKK’s Executive Council made the announcement on Saturday.
The PKK has set conditions for the permanent cessation of hostilities and its own dissolution, stating that “as long as no attacks are launched against us, our forces will not carry out armed actions.”
Other steps, such as disarmament, could only be taken under the “practical leadership” of the imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Öcalan. Furthermore, Öcalan is to personally lead and conduct the PKK Congress. The leadership of the “Era of Peace and Democratic Society” can only be taken over by him, it was said.
Founded in 1978, the PKK has been fighting against the Turkish state since the 1980s. It is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the US, among others. Previous peace talks have repeatedly failed. Öcalan has been in Turkish custody since 1999.