The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, called on the group to disarm in a historic address on Thursday, in a development that could reshape one of the longest running conflicts in the Middle East and points to shifting priorities in an evolving region.
After weeks of speculation, the militant group's controversial leader delivered a message calling on the group to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. "Convene your congress and make a decision: all groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself," he said in the message.
His message was read out in both Kurdish and Turkish during a press conference held by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (Dem Party), which has been mediating talks between Ankara and the PKK to bring an end to the decades-long insurgency. Ocalan’s statement was read first in Kurdish by Dem party official Ahmet Turk and then in Turkish by Pervin Buldan, an MP for the city of Van, to a packed conference room in an Istanbul hotel.
The Dem Party delegation sat on a stage in front of a newly released photograph of the group alongside Ocalan, who appeared to have aged considerably since he was last seen in public.
Ocalan is serving a life sentence on the island of Imrali in the Sea of Marmara, south of Istanbul, where he has been imprisoned since he was captured in Kenya in February 1999. It remains unclear whether Ocalan will be released from prison in exchange for ordering the PKK to lay down its arms.
The statement came after Dem Party officials made their third visit to Ocalan since December, following an overture to Kurdish parties in Turkey by a prominent government ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Efkan Ala, vice chairman of Mr Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said he would be looking to see “results” from Ocalan’s call. “If the terrorist organisation takes this call, lays down its arms, gathers together and dissolves itself, Turkey will be freed from its shackles,” Mr Ala said in remarks reported by state news agency Anadolu.
The PKK was founded by Ocalan in 1978 and has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state for four decades, with about 40,000 killed on both sides. The group is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, and the EU.
Ocalan’s call could have wide regional implications and has probably been influenced by the regime change in Syria, which has prompted calls for PKK-affiliated militias there to disband and join a new army controlled from Damascus.
"There are many aspects to what is going on right now, the change in Syria being one of them," a senior official from Turkey's main political opposition, the Republican People's Party, told The National before Ocalan's announcement. "President Erdogan needs a success domestically. The PKK has been weakened militarily, and so it can perhaps be forced to agree to terms more easily." The details of how Ocalan's call will play out remain unclear, however.
"The Kurdish issue is an ancient and long-term issue. It is an issue that will benefit everyone by resolving it," a senior Dem Party official told The National before Ocalan's statement. "Mr Ocalan's statement will of course mean a new period, a new stage."
The initiative began in October when Devlet Bahceli, leader of an ultranationalist Turkish party and a prominent government ally of Mr Erdogan, said Ocalan should be released on the condition that he instructs PKK leaders to disarm and enter a political process.
Mr Bahceli and his Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had for years been opposed to any rapprochement with the Kurds. Ocalan linked his order directly to Mr Bahceli's outreach to Kurdish politicians in Turkey, adding that “the will expressed by Mr President" had “created the environment” in which he demanded the PKK to dissolve and disarm.
The PKK has previously said it will not heed any calls to disarm unless Ocalan is released from jail and a meeting can take place in person, and it remains unclear if all factions within the organisation will heed the call. A political resolution has been close before, when Mr Erdogan, prime minister at the time, and Ocalan almost reached an agreement in 2015. Talks collapsed and a bloody period of fighting followed.
However, at the time, most of the PKK's fighters left to fight alongside a Kurdish militia known as the YPG in Syria, which formed the backbone of US-led efforts to fight ISIS. The extremist group is now largely defeated, and with the Assad regime gone, Kurds in Syria now face a new reality in which armed groups may be integrated into the state armed forces.
The leader of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Salih Muslim, told Al Arabiya that he agrees with Ocalan's statement. Turkey views the PYD as the Syrian wing of the PKK. “There would be no need for weapons if we are allowed to work politically. If the reasons for carrying weapons disappear we will lay them down," he said.
While he has remained quiet on the process within Turkey, Mr Erdogan has repeatedly said that his country will not tolerate a continuing PKK presence across the border in Syria – something Ankara sees as a major national security threat.
"Terrorist organisations must understand that there is no place for them in Syria. Otherwise, we will not hesitate to take action to tell them this truth," Mr Erdogan said in remarks to carried by Turkish state media earlier this month.
The PKK, now largely confined to the Qandil mountains in northern Iraq where they are not welcomed by the local Kurdish authorities, may be left with little option but to disarm – although the conditions for it doing so remain unclear.
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
More on animal trafficking
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five pillars of Islam
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Read more about the coronavirus
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
