The call by the PKK’s leader Öcalan for laying down arms and dissolution resonated globally. Germany and the US welcomed the call. Initial reactions also came from Syria and Iraq about the declaration. The President of the Kurdistan Region, Barzani, stated, “We are ready to play any role to make the process successful.” The leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is mainly composed of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, Mazlum Abdi, said that the call was “not related to Kurds in Syria.” The leader of the terrorist organization PKK/PYD, Salih Muslim, stated, “We will lay down arms if allowed to operate as a political group.” The first reactions to the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve came from Syria, Iraq, the US, and Germany.

The leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), mainly constituted by the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, Mazlum Abdi, mentioned that Öcalan’s call was “not directly for our region, but for the relationship between PKK and Turkey, which will impact our region.” Abdi shared these remarks during a video conference at a press club in Washington.

Salih Muslim, the former co-chair of the terrorist organization PKK/PYD, stated to Al Arabiya, “We agree with Abdullah Öcalan’s remarks. We will lay down arms if allowed to operate as a political group.” Muslim expressed that they will evaluate the call with the actors in northeast Syria and create a roadmap. Iran also positively welcomed the call for laying down arms.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that this step could stop terrorism and increase security in Turkey. The President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKBY), Nechirvan Barzani, reported that they welcomed the call. The IKBY Presidency statement on behalf of Barzani mentioned, “We are ready to play any role to make the process successful.”

The statement highlighted that “not with arms and violence but through this way (democracy), better results and successes can be achieved.” Another statement came from the US. The White House National Security Council Spokesperson, Brian Hughes, mentioned in a written statement, “This is an important development, and we hope it will help our Turkish allies feel relieved about the US’s anti-ISIS partners in northeast Syria.” Hughes expressed belief that this move will contribute to bringing peace to the troubled region. The German Government Spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, shared the message of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a written statement.

The statement revealed that Scholz welcomed PKK leader Öcalan’s call for the organization to lay down arms and dissolve. The statement emphasized that “PKK’s actions have led to too many casualties” and pointed out that the call presented an opportunity to overcome violence.