PKK announces its dissolution and the end of armed struggle

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced its dissolution and the end of more than four decades of armed struggle against the Turkish state.

The declaration, published by a media outlet linked to the group, marks the end of a critical stage in the initiative for a Turkey free of terrorism, Daily Sabah reports.
It follows a congress held last week by the group at the call of its leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is in prison.
"The 12th congress of the PKK has decided to dissolve the organizational structure of the PKK and end the armed struggle," the Kurdish armed group said in a statement.
On February 27, the historic leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, called on his movement to disarm and end the guerrilla war that has claimed the lives of over 40,000 people since 1984.
Öcalan's appeal, who has been imprisoned for 26 years on the island of Imrali, near Istanbul, came after mediation efforts launched in the fall by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main ally, nationalist Devlet Bahceli, through the pro-Kurdish DEM party.
On March 1, the PKK responded positively to the call of its historic leader, announcing an immediate ceasefire with Turkish forces.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan then described Abdullah Ocalan's call as a "historic opportunity" for Turks and Kurds, who according to some estimates represent 20% of Turkey's 85 million population. | BGNES

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