„The“Historic call“ by rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan to the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) to disband the group is the leading topic of the Turkish press this morning, writes BTA.
„An important step for Turkey without terror“ („Sabah“), “The long-awaited call from Öcalan came: PKK to disband“ („Karar“, „Türkgün“), „The leader disbanded his organization“ („Aksam“), „The PKK's existence was ended“ („Milliyet“), „End of the PKK Road“ („Yeni Akit“), „Historic Call“ („Posta“), „Turkey Without Terrorism“ („Takvim“). These are some of the headlines on the front pages of leading Turkish publications this morning.
A „historical development“ was achieved within the framework of the „Turkey Without Terrorism“ process, initiated by the leader of the Nationalist Action Party (NAP) Devlet Bahçeli and fully supported by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, commented „Sabah“.
V. „Türkiye“ notes that 140 days after the announced initiative by Bahçeli, Öcalan issued a call for the PKK to disarm. V. “Aydinlık“ stated in a front-page headline that “The Turkish army has finished off the PKK, and Öcalan has simply accepted this reality“.
“As in any case with any modern community and party whose existence has not been forcibly abolished, I appeal to you to do it voluntarily - convene a congress and make a decision accordingly; "All groups must lay down their arms and the PKK must disband," Öcalan's appeal, read by the DEM party in Istanbul, said.
His appeal was broadcast in Turkish, Kurdish, English and Arabic and was broadcast live on large screens in eastern Turkey, including the Kurdish-populated cities of Van and Diyarbakir, as well as in a number of cities in Syria.
“In this positive climate created following the initiative of Mr. Devlet Bahçeli and with the support of President Erdoğan, as well as the positive approaches of other political parties, I make an appeal to lay down my arms and take the historical responsibility for this appeal,“ Öcalan's declaration said.
In his words, “democratic consensus is the main path“.
After Öcalan's appeal was read, reactions and comments followed from various political parties, the daily „Karar“ reports.
Turkey will be „free from its shackles“ if the PKK lays down its arms and disbands, said Efkan Ala, deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), adding that the government expects the PKK to comply with Öcalan's demands.
The leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, welcomed the statement. He recalled that the CHP had previously supported democratic solutions to Turkey's problems and had always opposed all forms of violence and terror, the daily „Hürriyet“ reports.
Ali Babacan, leader of the DEVA party, also welcomed the call for peace, describing it as a „historical event“ and stressed that the dissolution of the PKK would be an important step towards ending the violence.
Future Party leader Ahmet Davutoglu welcomed the declaration, saying that “in these times of global uncertainty and regional conflicts, every call and step towards Turkey's internal peace and the elimination of terrorism is a positive development.“
He stressed the need for a concrete, results-oriented roadmap to ensure lasting peace, stressing that all political parties and civil society must contribute to this process.
Öcalan's call was also welcomed by a number of high-ranking foreign representatives, “Milliyet“ reports.
Yesterday's statement by Öcalan was made after the third visit of a DEM party delegation to the prison on Imrali Island, where Öcalan is serving a life sentence.
The editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Hürriyet“ Ahmet Hakan analyzed Öcalan's declaration, pointing out that the rebel leader “tried to create a text with intellectual content“. In his brief statement, which includes definitions such as “real socialism“ and “capitalist modernity“, he tries to outline a historical perspective, Hakan commented.
The journalist emphasizes that Öcalan does not fail to mention Devlet Bahçeli's initiative, President Erdoğan's will and the positive approach of other political parties.
“The most important part of Öcalan's declaration is this: “All groups must lay down their arms and the PKK must disband itself.“ This sentence means the end of a half-century process. This is the most essential part. Öcalan thought a lot about this text, he worked a lot, he studied a lot“, writes Hakan.
Öcalan also writes about the relations between Turkey and the Kurds. He points out that the Turks and the Kurds have been voluntary allies for more than a thousand years. However, the rebel leader says that “historical Turkish-Kurdish relations have become very fragile today and adds that this must be changed in the spirit of brotherhood between Turks and Kurds“, notes the Turkish analyst.
The PKK launched an armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984. and is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara, the European Union and the United States. The group has bases in northern Iraq and is active in northern Syria.