Global leaders welcome Öcalan’s call for disarmament as step toward peace
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The international community responded on Thursday positively to Abdullah Öcalan’s recent call for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms and dissolve itself, viewing it as a potential turning point for stability in the region.
The White House welcomed the announcement, with Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the National Security Council, describing it as a “significant development.”
“We hope this will help reassure our Turkish allies regarding U.S. counter-ISIS partners in northeast Syria,” he added. “We believe it will contribute to peace in this troubled region.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed support, calling the disarmament call a “glimmer of hope” that could lead to a resolution of the decades-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish government.
“The Secretary-General welcomes this important development,” said U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
Germany echoed similar sentiments, calling the move a “historic chance” to end the PKK’s armed insurgency.
A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated, “An end to the violence is an essential first step, but further measures are necessary, particularly in ensuring and protecting the cultural and democratic rights of Kurds in Turkey.”
The statement also affirmed Berlin’s readiness to support the peace process.
As world leaders emphasize the significance of Öcalan’s statement, attention now turns to the next steps in facilitating a long-term resolution to the conflict.