Skip to main content

Turkish Nationalist Leader Applauds PKK Disbanding, Sets Conditions for Lasting Peace

In a historic development marking the end of a decades-long conflict, Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has hailed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s decision to disband and lay down its arms. The announcement came after PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan called on the group to abandon violence—a move Bahçeli described as a turning point in Turkey’s history.

After the news broke, Bahçeli said: “The seeds of peace sown with effort, patience, and sacrifice across every corner of the Turkish homeland have finally sprouted and bloomed.” He added that the bloody chapter written by betrayal over 47 years should now be closed permanently, as reported by the T24.

Bahçeli praised Öcalan’s so-called “February 27 Imralı Peace Call,” which urged the PKK to take responsibility for ending the armed struggle. He thanked Öcalan, the DEM Party, a Kurdish political party known for its support of the peace process, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for their roles in advancing the peace process.

However, while celebrating a victory for democracy and politics, Bahçeli emphasized that the next phase must proceed with caution and strategic foresight. He outlined five key conditions for ensuring a sustainable peace:

1. Disarmament Details: Clarifying when, where, and under what conditions weapons will be surrendered, including the scale and scope of disarmament.

2. Monitoring Possible Transfers: Ensuring simultaneous oversight of any potential movement of former PKK militants to affiliated groups like PYD/YPG.

3. Categorization of Militants: Distinguishing between militants who committed crimes and those who did not, for appropriate legal action or reintegration.

4. Measures Against Leadership: Defining the legal and administrative measures against the PKK leadership cadre, which may include trials for war crimes and the dissolution of the organization.

5. Legal and Political Reforms: Establishing a legal and strategic framework to strengthen democracy, civil society, and long-term Kurdish-Turkish coexistence.

Bahçeli stressed that peace must be real and lasting. “Prejudices must be eradicated, artificial conflicts ended, and ideological obsessions put aside,” he warned. He also reiterated that Turkey has never engaged in assimilation or genocide, emphasizing that the country belongs equally to all its citizens.

“This is a day where politics and democracy have won,” Bahçeli declared. “Today, we celebrate peace and brotherhood.”

He also paid tribute to the late Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a prominent figure in Turkey’s peace efforts, and honored the memory of Turkish soldiers killed in the conflict.

The MHP leader concluded with a message of unity: “The Turk and the Kurd have been one since time immemorial, and no internal or external force can break this bond.”

Photo: ANF

Popular posts from this blog

Sovereignty as Spectacle: Turkish Cypriot Researcher Critiques Grand Opening of the Northern Cyprus New "Republican Campus"

On Saturday, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is not recognized internationally, officially launched its new "Republican Campus." The first construction phase features the new Presidential Building and Parliament Building, inaugurated during a grand ceremony attended by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Dubbed by critics as a "show of sovereignty," the event, alongside the concurrent Teknofest technology festival, has drawn criticism from Turkish Cypriot researcher-writer Mete Hatay for its political undertones and symbolic messaging. Hatay, a noted peace researcher affiliated with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), argues that the openings were not merely about inaugurating buildings but about constructing symbols of dominance under the guise of sovereignty. Hatay describes the events as meticulously staged platforms for political agendas. "Today in Northern Cyprus, it wasn't just buildings that were opened; symbols w...

Cyprus Archbishop's Easter Message Lost in Translation, Sparking Controversy

A mistranslation of Cyprus' Orthodox Archbishop Georgios' Easter message has ignited a new wave of tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the divided island. Turkish Cypriot media outlets reported that the Archbishop called for "expelling the Turks and saving the homeland," prompting swift condemnation from Turkish Cypriot political figures, including opposition leader Tufan Erhürman. According to Kıbrıs Postası 's bulletin published on April 20, 2025, Archbishop Georgios issued an Easter message urging "Greece, Southern Cyprus, and all Hellenism to make a coordinated effort to expel the Turks and save the homeland." The report further claimed the Archbishop stated there was "no possibility of making any more concessions" in the current situation. In response, Tufan Erhürman , leader of the social democrat Republican Turkish Party (CTP), issued a strongly-worded statement criticizing what he called "discriminatory and pr...

Is Turkey's New Rising Political Star's Future in Danger?

In a development that could dramatically alter Turkey's political landscape, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential ambitions face a serious challenge as pro-government sources report his university diploma may soon be invalidated. According to prominent pro-government journalist Abdulkadir Selvi, Istanbul University is expected to complete a report today that could lead to the cancellation of Imamoglu's diploma, effectively disqualifying him from running for president of Turkey. Critical Findings in University Investigation The investigation centers around allegations that Imamoglu's lateral transfer from American University of Kyrenia to Istanbul University violated educational regulations. The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has already issued a report claiming that American University of Kyrenia was not recognized by YÖK at the time Imamoglu made his transfer. "Istanbul University's investigation has been completed, and the...