President Masoud Barzani on Thursday voiced his support for the message from imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, calling on the PKK to disarm and support a peace process in Turkiye.
“We reaffirm our unwavering stance and fully support the peace process in Turkey with all our capabilities, as we believe that peace is the only viable path to resolving conflicts,” President Barzani said.
“We hope that Ocalan’s message will serve as a starting point for reviving the peace process and lead to an outcome that benefits all sides.”
Other top Iraqi Kurdish leaders also voiced their support for the message from imprisoned PKK leader Ocalan.
“I welcome and support any peaceful initiative to resolve the region's issues,” Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a separate statement.
A Message from President Barzani
— KDP ForeignRelations (@kdpfro) February 27, 2025
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
We affirm our firm position on the peace and settlement process in Turkiye, and declare our full support for the process in every possible way, based on our belief that peace is the only… pic.twitter.com/O1S6XjXKYX
“The Kurdistan Region has always been an important factor for peace and stability in the area. In this regard, we reaffirm our readiness to contribute in any way and play a role in advancing the peace process in Turkiye.”
Moreover, in a statement Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed today’s message from Ocalan and called on the PKK to adhere to his call to lay down arms and disband.
“We warmly welcome Mr. Ocalan’s message and appeal for the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK. We urge the PKK to heed this message and take the necessary steps to implement it. We hope this appeal will pave the way for peace and a peaceful resolution. Undoubtedly, this is a time for a peaceful, civil, and democratic struggle, which will yield more favorable outcomes and accomplishments than those achieved through weapons and violence.
“The Kurdistan Region expresses its unwavering support for the peace process and stands prepared to contribute in any way necessary to ensure its success. We also recognize the efforts of President Erdogan and the AKP government, which has consistently pursued a vision for peace since the beginning of its administration,” he added.
Last year in October, Devlet Bahceli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), called on PKK leader Ocalan to address Turkiye’s parliament and declare the end of the armed struggle of the PKK.
This resulted in discussions in Turkiye over a new peace process.
On February 27, in a statement read by the Imrali delegation of the Democracy Party (DEM Party) in Istanbul, Ocalan said that “the call made by Mr. Devlet Bahceli, along with the will expressed by Mr. President (Erdogan), and the positive responses from the other political parties towards the known call, has created an environment in which I am making a call for the laying down of arms, and I take on the historical responsibility of this call.
“As any modern community and party whose existence has not been abolished by force would do, convene your congress and make a decision; all groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself.
The Iraqi Kurdish leadership has supported this process from the beginning, including during the earlier peace process that collapsed in 2015.
Read More: KRG Ready to Assist Peace Process in Turkiye: PM
On February 19, Prime Minister Barzani welcomed the visiting Imrali delegation of the DEM party and expressed his willingness to assist in a new peace process in Turkiye.
“I met with the DEM Party delegation to discuss the peace process in Turkiye and reaffirm my full support for efforts that pave the way for lasting reconciliation. The KRG stands ready to assist,” Prime Minister Barzani posted on X.
Treefa Aziz, the KRG Representative to the United States, at a conference at the University of Central Florida also underlined that the KRG has taken a “very proactive role in bringing peace in the Middle East with our brothers and sisters in our neighborhood."
“We’ve been quite active for a while now trying to bring about peace talks between the PKK and Turkiye. This has been a long-fought battle with very little gain and a lot of destruction and detriment, even to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. I believe 450 villages in the region have been evacuated because of the conflict.
“It is my hope that after the statement today the PKK will be disarming and dialogue and negotiation with the Turkish Government will lead to enduring peace and the recognition of Kurdish rights in Turkey.”
