The call by the leader of the terrorist organization, Abdullah Öcalan, for the PKK to lay down arms and disband quickly made its way to the headlines worldwide. The UK’s prominent newspaper, The Guardian, conveyed the historic call as “Öcalan urges PKK to disarm, potentially triggering a major shift that could shake Turkey and the Middle East.” Here are the international echoes of the call… The leader of the terrorist group Abdullah Öcalan called on the PKK to lay down arms and disband.
The letter read by the DEM Party after the meeting on Imrali Island stated, “I call for laying down arms and I take responsibility for the historic call.” This call swiftly made its way to the headlines worldwide.
Germany’s leading newspaper Bild used the headline “Öcalan wants to dissolve the PKK” as its top story. The UK-based Reuters news agency announced the call as, “Öcalan, with a move that could put an end to Ankara’s 40-year conflict and result in broad political and security implications for the region, has called on the PKK to disarm.” The call for disarmament also caught the attention of the American press.
CNN International wrote, “According to the statement, Abdullah Öcalan made a historical move by asking his party to ‘lay down arms’ and dissolve itself.”
The article included the following phrases: “Öcalan has raised the possibility of ending the conflict with Turkey that has lasted for decades, and is estimated to have caused the deaths of at least 40,000 people, by asking the PKK to lay down arms.” The Guardian, one of the UK’s leading newspapers, reported that the imprisoned Öcalan called for the disarming of the group, stating that it could trigger a significant change that could shake Turkey and the Middle East.
The article stated, “Öcalan’s message after 40 years of war will have wide-ranging impacts.” The attention of the Arab media was also on the DEM Party’s announcement.
Qatar-based Al Jazeera placed the headline “Historic announcement: Öcalan has ordered the closure of the PKK and the laying down of arms” in its news report. The Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported the call for disarmament with the headline, “Abdullah Öcalan calls for the dissolution of the PKK.”
The article noted that Öcalan “called for the resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey through ‘peace and democracy’.” Euronews, based in Europe, included the following sentences in its news report on the historic development:
“Despite being in prison, Öcalan continues to have a significant impact on the PKK. Analysts suggest that some groups within the organization may resist, but it is expected that the organization will heed any call made by Öcalan.” The French broadcasting company France 24 reported the call read by the DEM Party as follows:
“If the PKK heeds this call, a door will be opened to end a 40-year conflict that has ravaged southeastern Turkey, with significant implications across the region, particularly in neighboring countries like Syria and Iraq.”