Turkey’s nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli has called on imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to unequivocally declare the group’s disbandment during his next anticipated meeting with pro-Kurdish officials. The PKK, which is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, resulting in over 40,000 deaths.
Bahceli, who heads the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and is a crucial ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, made his remarks on Tuesday, referencing a rare meeting last week between the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and Ocalan. In his parliamentary address, Bahceli underscored that Ocalan should declare “without any conditions” that the PKK’s activities have come to an end. He added that the group must “bury their weapons, surrender themselves, or face their inevitable end,” signaling a no-tolerance stance on negotiating with what the country declares terrorists.
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This development follows Bahceli’s earlier proposal urging Ocalan to formally dissolve the PKK, feeding speculation that the latest talks may revive hopes for peace. Despite Ocalan’s reported willingness to call on the PKK to lay down arms, skepticism remains high among Kurds anxious about the broader regional dynamics, including the precarious situation of Kurdish forces in neighboring Syria.
Ocalan has been incarcerated on Imrali Island, in the Sea of Marmara, since his capture in 1999. According to two DEM Party sources, another visit is scheduled to take place as soon as January 15, potentially paving the way for a more definitive statement on the future of the long-running conflict.