Senior figures from Kurdish-led northern Syria have backed Abdullah Öcalan’s call for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disband, paving the way for a political resolution to the 40-year Turkish-Kurdish conflict.
Mazloum Abdi, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and prominent Kurdish politician Salih Muslim of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) both shared their initial reactions after the call was made public on 27 February. The SDF, a US-allied security force, works in coordination with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), where the PYD is a key political party.
SDF Commander Abdi posted on social media platform X:
“We welcome the historic announcement by leader Abdullah Öcalan, calling for an end to the war in Turkey and opening the way for a peaceful political process. This historic announcement is an opportunity to build peace and a key to opening correct and constructive relations in the region.”
At a press conference Abdi emphasised that Öcalan’s call was to the PKK guerrillas, and not to the SDF – yet it would still impact all Kurdish regions. He highlighted that if Öcalan’s proposal is implemented it could lead to democratisation in Turkey.
Abdi added:
“If this process is successful, it will have a positive impact on us and Turkey will have no excuse to attack our region."
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Prominent Kurdish politician Muslim told Al-Arabiya that the PYD “joins” Öcalan’s call, stressing that when society is safeguarded and people are allowed to organise themselves, there is “no need for arms”.
Muslim stated:
“We also join this call, because we have also taken up arms in North and East Syria for self-defence, and if the attacks against us stop, there will be no need for arms. We are not lovers of arms."
The reading of Öcalan’s historic message was watched by large crowds in AANES, where big screens were erected on the streets in several cities to enable people to join together for this momentous occasion.
