Erdogan Meets with Pro-Kurdish Politicians in an Effort to Put an End to Decades of Violence
The Turkish president hosted a meeting with two parliamentary deputies from the Ankara Parliament who support the ethnic group at his palace in Ankara.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with pro-Kurdish politicians on Thursday to address the ongoing conflict between Turkey and Kurdish militants that has lasted for 40 years.
Pervin Buldan and Sirri Sureyya Onder, parliamentary deputies representing the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), had a meeting with Erdogan at his presidential palace in Ankara.
The DEM Party, established in 2023, is the latest expression of the pro-Kurdish political movement in Turkey.
“It was a very positive meeting, it went well. We are much more hopeful,” Onder said of the meeting.
Prior to the meeting, Onder stated that they would update the president on the status of the peace talks, expressing optimism that negotiations would accelerate.
Also in attendance during the 90-minute meeting were Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Efkan Ala, deputy chairperson of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP).
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Buldan and Onder have been actively involved in visiting Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in an effort to end the violence that has claimed many lives.
The PKK, known for its insurgency against the Turkish state since the 1980s, is recognized as a terrorist organization by Ankara and much of the Western world.
Ocalan, in custody since his capture in 1999, recently called for the group to dissolve and disarm, leading to a ceasefire declaration by the PKK.
Subsequently, the PKK requested Ocalan’s release to oversee a congress aimed at dissolving the group.
Erdogan viewed these developments as a potential breakthrough in resolving the conflict between Turks and Kurds.
Despite the ceasefire, progress has been limited, with the Turkish military continuing operations against PKK insurgents in Iraq and Turkish-backed groups engaging PKK-affiliated militants in Syria.
The ceasefire coincides with regional shifts, including the fall of Assad in Syria, the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Israel–Hamas conflict.
Moreover, political tensions have escalated in Turkey, with numerous mayors, including those affiliated with the DEM Party, being removed or arrested on alleged charges, which they claim are politically motivated.
The arrest of high-profile figures, such as Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, underscores the political pressure faced by opposition parties in Turkey.
Imamoglu was detained amidst accusations related to the PKK and other criminal activities, with some viewing these charges as attempts to weaken his political influence.
Speculation suggests Erdogan’s government may be leveraging reconciliation efforts with the Kurds to secure support for constitutional changes that benefit his political longevity.
The current ceasefire represents the first significant breakthrough in resolving the conflict since the breakdown of previous peace talks in 2015.
The Associated Press and Adam Morrow contributed to this report.
