PKK leader Ocalan set to make historic peace call between Turkey and the Kurds
A delegation is expected to relay the militant leader's statement on Thursday, Al-Monitor has learned.
Suspense over what Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan will say in a long-anticipated message to his fighters has reached an all-time high following confirmation by Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party, DEM, that it will meet with him on Thursday at the island prison where he is being held.
The seven-member delegation, which will likely comprise six DEM lawmakers and one of Ocalan’s lawyers, is expected to relay Ocalan’s statement the same day, a DEM lawmaker speaking not for attribution told Al-Monitor.
DEM lawmakers have been ordered to be in Istanbul by 9:30 a.m. local time after being initially told to gather in Ankara on Friday, the lawmaker said.
The broad consensus is that Ocalan will tell his outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters to end their 40-year-long armed campaign against the Turkish state, marking a historic moment for Turkey and Kurds worldwide.
