The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, said on Sunday he is "ready to make a call" to back a new initiative by the Turkish government to end decades of conflict, Turkey's pro-Kurdish party confirmed.
Two politician's from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) party made a rare visit to Ocalan on Saturday on his prison island, the first by the party in almost a decade, amid signs of easing tension between the Turkish government and the PKK.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government approved DEM's request on Friday to visit the founder of the PKK, which is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its western allies.
Ocalan has been serving a life sentence on the island of Imrali, south of Istanbul, since 1999.
The government's approval of the visit comes two months after the head of Turkey's nationalist MHP party, Devlet Bahceli, extended Ocalan an olive branch, inviting him to parliament to renounce terror and disband his group, in a move backed by Mr Erdogan.
"I have the competence and determination to make a positive contribution to the new paradigm started by Mr Bahceli and Mr Erdogan," Ocalan said, according to a DEM statement on Sunday.
He said the visiting delegation would share his approach with the state and political circles. "In light of this, I am ready to take the necessary positive steps and make the call."
DEM party co-chairman Tuncer Bakirhan praised Ocalan's appeal as a "historic opportunity to build a common future", in a message on social media platform X.
"We are on the eve of a potential democratic transformation across Turkey and the region. Now is the time for courage and foresight for an honourable peace," Mr Bakirhan said.
The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, claiming tens of thousands of lives. A peace process between the PKK and the government collapsed in 2015, unleashing violence especially in the Kurdish-majority south-east.
The initiative launched in October by Mr Bahceli, who has been hostile to the PKK, sparked a public debate, with Mr Erdogan hailing it as a "historic window of opportunity".
But a deadly terror attack in October on a Turkish defence company in the capital Ankara, for which PKK militants claimed responsibility, put those hopes on hold. Turkey launched strikes on Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria after the attack, which killed five people.
"Re-strengthening the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood is not only a historical responsibility but also … an urgency for all peoples," Ocalan said, according to the DEM statement.
He said all the efforts would "take the country to the level it deserves" and become a "very valuable guide for a democratic transformation".
"It's time for peace, democracy and brotherhood in Turkey and the region."
PKK attacks Ankara security firm - in pictures
The new contact by both sides comes as Islamist rebels consolidate their control in neighbouring Syria after toppling its strongman president Bashar Al Assad.
Turkey hopes Syria's new leaders will address the issue of Kurdish forces in the country, which Ankara sees as a terror group affiliated to the PKK.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call on Saturday that Kurdish fighters "cannot be allowed to take shelter in Syria", the ministry spokesman said.
According to the DEM statement, Ocalan said developments in Syria had shown that outside interference would only complicate the problem, and a solution could no longer be postponed.
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
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Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Naga
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
