Iraq's Kurdish leaders welcome PKK's jailed leader's call for dissolution, disarmament

BAGHDAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region on Thursday welcomed the call by jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan to disarm and dissolve the group.

"We warmly welcome Ocalan's message and his call for disarmament and dissolution of the PKK. We request that the PKK commit to and obey this message and implement it," President of the Kurdistan region Nechirvan Barzani said in a statement.

"We hope this call will pave the way for achieving peace and peaceful resolution," Barzani said.

Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said in a statement, "We hope that Ocalan's message will be the beginning of putting the peace process on track and reaching an outcome in the interest of all parties."

Leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Bafel Talabani said in a tweet on the X platform, "We think it is a responsible and necessary call at this stage to unite the Kurds and resolve issues through peaceful dialogue based on partnership and solidarity, paving the way for a brighter and more peaceful future for our people."

Earlier in the day, Türkiye's pro-Kurdish Democratic Party announced in Istanbul that Ocalan has called for disarmament and the dissolution of PKK.

Ocalan, who has been held in near-total isolation in Imrali since 1999, founded the PKK in 1978. The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union. ■