The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has declared that “historic” decisions were made during its long-anticipated congress held earlier this week in northern Iraq, though the group has not confirmed whether it intends to disband or disarm as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey.
According to a statement carried by Firat News Agency, which is closely affiliated with the outlawed group, the congress was held across two locations in northern Iraq, Suleymaniyah and Duhok, between Monday and Wednesday.
The group said further details of the resolutions would be shared with the public shortly.
In February, PKK founder and imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan had called for the group to convene a congress to dissolve and lay down arms to bring an end to the decades-long conflict with Turkey.
Since the 1980s, the insurgency has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, the European Union and other Western nations, declared a ceasefire shortly after Öcalan’s appeal.
However, it stipulated that certain conditions must be met before any disarmament, including establishing a legal framework for peace negotiations.
Öcalan’s messages highlighting his “perspectives and proposals” were read during the congress, Firat News reported.
The Turkish broadcaster Habertürk also confirmed the congress locations, both known strongholds of the PKK’s senior leadership.
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which is involved in the current peace initiative, said on Friday that a formal declaration from the PKK could be imminent.
“We, too, are awaiting this historic step, this historic decision,” said party spokesperson Aysegül Doğan.
The latest peace overture was launched in October by Turkish far-right politician Devlet Bahçeli, who proposed that Öcalan could be considered for parole if the PKK renounced armed struggle and formally dissolved.
Earlier efforts at reconciliation, including a major initiative in 2015, have ultimately collapsed.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has led to tens of thousands of deaths since it began in 1984.
Its initial aim was to create a separate Kurdish state, but later changed to demands for greater autonomy.
