A Turkish opposition party delegation visited Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region to engage in peace efforts between Ankara and a banned Kurdish separatist movement in Turkey. The delegation, led by senior officials from the pro-Kurdish People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) in Turkey, met with Masoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq. Discussions centered around the peace process in Turkey, with the Turkish delegation conveying a message from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Barzani emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts for the peace process to succeed and expressed readiness to support it. The DEM party advocates for greater democracy and rights for Turkey's Kurdish population, as well as improved conditions for Ocalan, who founded the PKK in 1978. The PKK initiated an armed insurrection in 1984, leading to significant casualties and is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
Ocalan, serving a life sentence since 1999, has been a focal point in recent peace talks. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, historically at odds with the DEM party, has shown signs of reconciliation, particularly after a suggestion to grant Ocalan parole if the PKK renounces violence and disbands.
The peace efforts coincide with Erdogan's potential need for support from the DEM party to enact a new constitution allowing him to extend his term limit. However, Erdogan's administration has faced criticism for cracking down on opposition figures, including arresting journalists and politicians, and replacing elected Kurdish mayors with state-appointed officials.
Simultaneously, conflict persists between Turkish-backed armed groups and Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria. Turkey considers the Syrian Democratic Forces, a U.S.-backed Kurdish alliance, an extension of the PKK. The SDF's refusal to dissolve and integrate into the new Syrian army has complicated negotiations with the Syrian government.
Turkey's Foreign Minister hinted at reconsidering military presence in northeastern Syria if the PKK presence is eliminated. Kurds in northeastern Syria staged a protest demanding Ocalan's release, underscoring the complex dynamics in the region.
