Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Calls for PKK to Disband Following Öcalan’s Call

In a recent statement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the importance of the call made from İmralı, urging the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) to consider disbanding. He stated, “The time for the organization’s founding leader to call for the disbandment of the organization has come and gone. We hope that the PKK will heed İmralı’s call. This call should be regarded as a historic one. The organization must initiate the process of disbandment. It is significant that the founding will has issued such a directive.”

Fidan’s remarks come in the wake of MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) leader Devlet Bahçeli’s recent comments referring to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan as the “founding leader of the PKK.” MHP Deputy Chairman İsmail Özdemir commented on Bahçeli’s use of this term, stating, “Whether we accept it or not, this is a technical reality. The General Chairman articulated this reality. Some things need to be overcome in Türkiye.”

Speaking on TV100, Fidan elaborated on Öcalan’s call, saying, “For the last 15 years, the fruits of the democratic environment in Türkiye have been evident. A structure that continues to operate with outdated methods from the Cold War era should have long since questioned and disbanded itself. This process actually began in 2013. However, they misled the organization by presenting certain opportunities in Syria. The organization knows who the regional actors are that distracted them.”

Fidan highlighted that Türkiye is significantly more advanced in its fight against terrorism compared to a decade ago, noting, “We have developed new understandings and technologies during this process. We are engaged in multiple battles simultaneously, not just against terrorism. Moving forward, the call made must be heeded, and it should be seen as a historic opportunity for the organization to begin the disbandment process.”

He further stated, “We will continue to do what we have been doing for years. We will strengthen our democracy and fight against our most destructive enemies. The organization’s leaders must respond to the call from İmralı and free themselves from this political tutelage. The DEM (Democratic Regions Party) has long been trying to operate under a form of tutelage. It is impossible to claim that a genuine political problem exists while operating under the influence of armed terrorist elements. I believe that if they evaluate this opportunity window, it could lead to a significant breakthrough for Türkiye and the region. If they take a step towards this evaluation, it will be up to them if others mislead them as they did in 2013. We are prepared for any scenario.”