Iraqi Kurdistan’s President Calls Turkey’s Peace Process a “Historic Opportunity”
By Kardo Roj
ERBIL, Iraq (North Press) – Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, described the ongoing peace process in Turkey as a “historic opportunity” and expressed readiness to support efforts aimed at resolving Kurdish-Turkish tensions through dialogue.
Barzani made the remarks on Monday during a meeting with a Kurdish-Turkish parliamentary delegation from the Equality and Democracy of Peoples Party in Erbil.
“We have always worked to promote peace and resolve issues through peaceful means, as experience has shown that war and violence do not solve problems,” Barzani stated.
A Renewed Push for Peace
The Kurdish issue in Turkey has been a longstanding conflict between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed organization banned in Turkey.
While previous peace efforts collapsed in 2015, recent signals from Ankara and Kurdish political circles have reignited hopes for a new reconciliation process.
Barzani emphasized that all Kurdish political actors should view the peace process strategically and seize this unique opportunity to end decades of conflict.
“We hope the PKK approaches this process with a long-term vision and does not let this opportunity slip away,” he added.
Regional Support and Mediation
The Kurdish-Turkish parliamentary delegation praised Barzani’s past and present efforts in supporting peace initiatives and requested his continued mediation to ensure a successful dialogue.
The meeting follows a similar engagement on Sunday, when Masoud Barzani, former President of the Kurdistan Region, met the delegation in Salahaddin Resort near Erbil.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has previously played a key role in diplomatic efforts, facilitating past peace talks between Turkish officials and Kurdish representatives.
Challenges Ahead
Despite growing calls for peace, significant political and security hurdles remain. The Turkish government continues military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq and Syria, while the Kurdish political landscape remains divided over how to approach negotiations.
Observers believe that international actors, including the European Union and the United States, could play a supportive role in backing a sustainable peace process.
For now, Kurdish leaders like Nechirvan Barzani are urging all sides to commit to peaceful solutions, warning that failure to do so could prolong instability in the region.