The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared that a “historic” decision was made at the long-standing long-awaited parliament held in northern Iraq earlier this week, but the group has not confirmed whether it intends to disband or disarm it as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey.
According to a statement carried by Firat News Agency, which is closely affiliated with the banned group, the assembly took place from Monday to Wednesday at two locations in northern Iraq.
The group said further details of the resolution will soon be shared with the public.
In February, PKK founder and imprisoned leader Abdulla Öcalan had asked the group to convene parliament to disband and lay arms to end a decades-long conflict with Turkey.
Since the 1980s, rebellions have killed tens of thousands of people.
The PKK was designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, the European Union and other Western countries, and declared a ceasefire shortly after Ocaran’s appeal.
However, it provided that certain conditions must be met before disarmament, including establishing a legal framework for peace negotiations.
Öcalan’s message, emphasizing his “points and suggestions,” was read during the Congress, Firat News reported.
Turkish broadcaster Habertürk also confirmed the location of the parliament, a known hub for the PKK senior leaders.
The Turkish pro-Kurdish DEM party, involved in the current peace initiative, said on Friday that a formal declaration from the PKK could be imminent.
“We are also waiting for this historic step, this historic decision,” said Aysegül Doğan, a party spokesman.
The latest overture to peace was launched in October by Turkish far-right politician Devlet Bahçeli. He suggested that if the PKK abandons the armed struggle and formally disbands, Okaran will be considered for parole.
Early efforts in the settlement, including major initiatives in 2015, eventually collapsed.
The conflict between Türkiye and the PKK has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths since it began in 1984.
Its initial purpose was to create another Kurdish state, but later changed to a demand for increased autonomy.
