Erdogan says to receive pro-Kurdish party delegates Thursday

Also in Turkey
Erdogan to meet with pro-Kurdish party amid Ankara-PKK peace talks
Turkey's main opposition re-elects leader
Nearly half a ton of cocaine seized at Istanbul airport
Turkey does not seek confrontation with Israel in Syria: FM
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that his much-anticipated meeting with the country's main pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) will take place the following day.
"Tomorrow, we will receive the DEM delegation, meet with them and confirm our will to achieve the goal of a terror-free Turkey,' Erdogan said at his ruling Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group meeting.
The DEM Party has been mediating peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) since late last year. In March, the party requested a meeting with Erdogan.
The meeting could be a significant step in the ongoing talks.
DEM Party delegates, which include veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk, have held numerous meetings with Turkey's key political parties, as well as the Kurdistan Region's top officials and ruling parties to convey Ocalan's peace message.
Though the peace talks have slowed down in recent weeks, the planned meeting with Erdogan could revitalize efforts to end the conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK, which has claimed over 40,000 lives since its 1984 onset.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Shafaq News

11 hours ago

• Shafaq News

Iraqi top leaders convene to assess regional fallout

Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraq's top authorities convened an emergency meeting to address mounting regional tensions following the recent US airstrikes on nuclear facilities inside Iran. President Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, and Supreme Judicial Council head Faiq Zidan attended the closed-door session. No official statement was issued regarding the nature of the discussions or any conclusions reached. With concerns rising over the potential fallout for Iraq, al-Sudani also planned further consultations with leaders of the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF) and the State Administration Coalition (SAC)—an alliance bringing together key Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish political forces. These talks are intended to evaluate the implications of the regional escalation on Iraq's security and political environment.

Memri

11 hours ago

• Memri

Rojava as an Inspiration: What Should the Kurds of Rojhelat Kurdistan Do in Iran?

While the Israeli military operation 'Rising Lion' against the Iranian regime aims to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, eliminate its ballistic missile capabilities, and curb Tehran's malign influence across the Middle East, it also presents a rare opportunity to overthrow the Velayat-e Faqih regime and put an end to the tyranny of the Ayatollahs. This calls on the Kurdish movement in Rojhelat/East Kurdistan, as well as the movements of other peoples in Iran, such as the Arabs, Balochis, Azeris, and democratic-minded Persians, to seize the current moment and work toward achieving this goal. In this context, Iranian Kurdish groups have issued various statements in response to Israel's operation against Iran, viewing it as a significant opportunity to overthrow the theocratic Velayat-e Faqih regime and transition the country toward a democratic system that respects its ethnic diversity. 'As Long As This Regime Remains In Power, The Situation Will Only Deteriorate' The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), the oldest Iranian Kurdish party, said in a statement: 'As long as this regime remains in power, the situation will only deteriorate. Therefore, the first and most important prerequisite for saving Iran's citizens from this crisis, destruction and darkness is to completely remove and end this regime.'[1] The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) has taken an explicit stance in support of these attacks and the process of destroying Iranian military and security capabilities: 'PAK insists on a nationwide uprising to end the regime or to reduce it in Tehran. It hopes that the people's uprising will end 46 years of crime and plunder and bring the judgment.'[2] Commenting on the ongoing war, the Secretary General of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, Abdullah Mohtadi, said in a television interview: 'The Iranian people reject the Islamic Republic's costly nuclear ambitions.' He called for 'a democratic, secular, and federal Iran that serves its people and lives in peace with its neighbors.'[3] The Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) said in its statement: 'We believe that transitioning to a Democratic Republic of Iran requires shifting perspectives and departing from power-seeking, nationalism, patriarchy, and centralism. We affirm our duty to defend our people and the other peoples of Iran against any form of repression or threat of massacre. We will fulfill this duty within the framework of legitimate self-defense of our rights and existence.'[4] (Source: 'The Kurdish Liberation Movement In Rojhelat Kurdistan And Iran Can Draw Upon The Experience Of The Kurds In Rojava During The Syrian Conflict' The Kurds in Iran constitute approximately 25% of the population, estimated at around 20 million people. They are spread across ten provinces in western Iran, a region commonly referred to as Rojhelat Kurdistan (Eastern Kurdistan). This region includes major Kurdish cities such as Urmia, Mahabad, Sinna (Sanandaj), Kermashan (Kermanshah), Saqqez, Ilam, and Lorestan. Additionally, Kurds are present in Khorasan, in eastern Iran, near the borders with Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Rojhelat Kurdistan is characterized by economic wealth, abundant water resources, and significant oil and gas fields, along with various mineral deposits. There are also estimates suggesting the presence of rare earth element reserves. The Kurds in Iran speak various Kurdish dialects, including Kurmanji, Sorani, Kalhuri, and Luri, and embrace different religious sects such as Sunni Islam, Feyli, and Kakayi (Yarsan). Rojhelat Kurdistan is also inhabited by minorities such as Arabs in areas near Ahwaz, Azeris in the north, as well as Armenians and Assyrians. Most of the Jewish community has emigrated to the state of Israel. The Kurdish struggle in Rojhelat Kurdistan has a long history, dating back to the 1940s, when the Republic of Kurdistan in Mahabad was declared in 1946. That republic, however, was crushed in less than a year, and its leaders were executed by the Shah's regime. Just as the Shah's regime had done, repression and forced assimilation policies against the Kurds in Iran continued under the mullahs' regime, which came to power in 1979. At various stages, the Kurdish movements confronted this subjugation and repression through political struggle and armed resistance. Meanwhile, under the pressure of Israeli attacks in Operation 'Rising Lion', the possibility of the Iranian regime's collapse is growing due to its weakening capabilities and exposed vulnerabilities. Therefore, the Kurdish liberation movement in Rojhelat Kurdistan and Iran can draw upon the experience of the Kurds in Rojava during the Syrian conflict. That experience enabled them to defend themselves and establish a model of democratic autonomy based on gender equality and cultural pluralism. 'The Establishment Of An Autonomous Or Federal Region in Rojhelat Kurdistan Is A Realistic Prospect' Although the Kurdish parties – PDKI, Komala, PAK, and PJAK – each have a military wing, Iranian pressure on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad has compelled some of these parties to evacuate their camps in the mountain ranges along the Iraq-Iran border. Only PJAK has resisted this pressure and continues to maintain its forces in those areas. It is worth noting that fighters from this group took part alongside the People's Protection Units (YPG) in the fight against ISIS in 2015 during the Battle of Kobani The establishment of an autonomous or federal region in Rojhelat Kurdistan is a realistic prospect in light of current developments. This requires Kurdish movements to unify their military efforts, coordinate with the United States, and even establish channels of communication with Israel. In this regard, the experience of the People's Protection Units (YPG) – which became the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in partnership with the international coalition – serves as a relevant model. The model of pluralistic democratic governance practiced by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) – which respects cultural diversity – offers a valuable experience from which Rojhelat Kurdistan can benefit. It may also serve as an inspiration for other ethnic groups in Iran, such as the Balochis, Arabs, and Azeris, to build upon. This would certainly help break the centralized authoritarianism imposed by the ruling regime in Tehran and advance the idea of peaceful coexistence, standing in stark contrast to the ethnic and sectarian conflicts perpetuated by the doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih. 'Jin – Jiyan – Azadi' (Woman – Life – Freedom) Such a model also promotes gender equality and liberates women, who have long suffered under the patriarchal mentality of the mullahs' regime. The inspiration given by Kurdish female fighters in the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) for Jina (Mahsa) Amini's uprising and the slogan 'Jin – Jiyan – Azadi' (Woman – Life – Freedom) against the Iranian regime in 2022 is an example of what Rojava's influence can be. It is noteworthy that Kurdish women from Rojhelat have also played a prominent role in military formations, whether within PJAK or the Peshmerga forces of other parties. The emergence of Kurdish self-rule in Rojhelat Kurdistan – beyond the authority and tyranny of the central power in Tehran – following the examples of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Rojava, has the potential to guarantee the right of millions of Kurds to self-determination in a new part of Kurdistan. This development may not be welcomed by Turkey, which occupies the largest portion of Kurdistan with a Kurdish population of approximately 30 million. Nevertheless, the success of the Kurds – anywhere in Kurdistan – in establishing a democratic, pluralistic system of governance that upholds the values of justice, freedom, and secularism ultimately serves the interests of a new Middle East, where diverse peoples coexist in peace and prosperity. Turkey's Role and Its Kurdophobia Transitioning Iran from a rogue state to a democratic and peaceful nation – both for its own people and for the broader Middle East – also requires distancing it from the malign influence of Turkey, which has long been an ally of the Velayat-e Faqih regime, and has provided it with a backdoor channel to circumvent sanctions. Driven by its anti-Kurdish sentiment, evident in its actions in Rojava, Turkey may seek either to prolong the life of the Iranian regime or exploit its weakness to impose its own agenda on the peoples of Iran, thereby depriving them of freedom and democracy. Therefore, Israel and Western nations must deliver a clear and decisive message to Turkey, urging it to cease its destabilizing interference, just as it is currently doing in Syria by backing a "Version 2.0" of the Velayat-e Faqih regime through the empowerment of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to assume control in Damascus, with the aim of monopolizing power and excluding other components, particularly the Kurds. *Çeleng Omer, a prominent economist from Kurdish-led North and East Syria, is a former resident of Afrin and professor at Afrin University. He was forced to flee the region due to the ongoing Turkish occupation.

Iraqi News

12 hours ago

• Iraqi News

Iraq, Turkey discuss oil exports resumption through Ceyhan

Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, discussed on Sunday the resumption of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The two ministers met on the sidelines of their participation in the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in the Turkish city of Istanbul, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Hussein stressed the need to expedite technical and administrative procedures to resume oil flows from the Kurdistan region of Iraq to Ceyhan. Due to financial and legal issues, crude oil shipments through the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline, which previously accounted for approximately 0.5 percent of the world's oil supply, have been suspended since March 2023. After the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris ruled that Ankara had violated a 1973 treaty by permitting oil exports without the approval of the federal government in Baghdad, oil flows via the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline were stopped. The ruling obligated Turkey to pay Baghdad $1.5 billion in compensation for losses caused by the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) illegal oil exports between 2014 and 2018. Earlier in March, negotiations to restart oil flows from Iraqi Kurdistan through the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline failed for the second time in a week. This setback was attributed to ongoing disagreements between oil companies and the Iraqi Oil Ministry, according to Reuters. In February, Hussein revealed that Baghdad is collaborating with the KRG to resolve technical issues and resume crude oil exports to Turkey, which had been suspended for almost two years and cost Iraq around $19 billion in lost revenue. The legislative structure is in place, but before oil flows can restart, oil firms, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and the federal government need to resolve technical issues, Hussein told Bloomberg.