PKK Announces Ceasefire with Turkey

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey, has declared a ceasefire with Turkey in response to a call from its leader, Abdullah Öcalan.

Representatives from Turkey's pro-Kurdish HDP party read a statement two days ago from PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is serving a life sentence in prison, urging armed militants to dissolve and disarm. Subsequently, armed units of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) announced their readiness to lay down arms if allowed to engage in political activities within Turkey.

The Turkish government hopes that the dissolution of the PKK will take two to three months, as reported by CNN Türk citing its sources.

“We agree with the content of Öcalan's call and announce that we will follow and fulfill its requirements. We declare a ceasefire starting from Saturday,” the PKK leadership committee stated, as quoted by Turkish broadcaster AHaber.

In light of the call for the dissolution of the PKK, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated yesterday that a 'new page has been opened' in the country without terrorism.