Ahmet Türk Reveals Bahçeli Congratulated PKK's Peace Declaration

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk disclosed Friday that Turkish far-right leader Devlet Bahçeli personally congratulated him on the PKK’s recent declaration in favor of peace, marking a rare moment of cross-party acknowledgment amid Turkey’s long-running Kurdish conflict.

Speaking during a televised interview, Türk—who is also a member of the Dem Party’s İmralı delegation previously tasked with backchannel negotiations between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)—said that following the group’s latest announcement, Bahçeli contacted him by phone to offer congratulations.

“Devlet Bahçeli called me and extended his congratulations on the declaration of peace,” Türk revealed. “He also expressed sympathy for my illness, telling me, ‘Death is not easy for me either.’”

A Call for Peace

Türk, known for his consistent calls for dialogue and peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue, stated: “Today, peace is the primary demand of the people of Turkey—it must be realized.” His comments followed the PKK’s 12th Congress, held in early May in the Medya Defense Zones, where the group reportedly endorsed a strategic pivot and hinted at abandoning armed struggle.

The congress, held between May 5 and 7, opened with a renewed commitment to the ideological legacy of imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan, whose February message—delivered via Türk—urged the group to disarm and embrace democratic politics.

While the final details of the congress’s outcomes have not been made public, PKK officials described the decisions as “historic,” signaling a possible recalibration of the group's long-term direction.

Ankara's Reaction

The Turkish government has cautiously welcomed the shift in tone. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in an earlier television appearance, said Ankara was monitoring developments closely and expected the PKK to announce its full disarmament “in the near future.”

“There is no longer a place for armed conflict in Turkey,” Fidan declared, reaffirming the government’s stance that all non-state armed structures must be dismantled. “Disarmament is only the beginning. All illegal operations inside Turkey must cease.”

Fidan also acknowledged the internal divisions within the PKK, noting that disbanding armed factions would be a complex process. “Many groups have differing interests, and laying down arms won’t be easy for all of them,” he said.

A Rare Gesture from Bahçeli

Perhaps the most surprising twist came with Bahçeli’s reported outreach. The leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), known for his hardline stance on Kurdish issues, had previously opposed any form of dialogue with the PKK. His reported call to Türk has therefore sparked intrigue across political circles.

While the conversation has not been officially confirmed by Bahçeli’s office, Türk’s revelation has reignited debate over the potential for a renewed peace process in Turkey—one that includes unlikely participants.

As Ahmet Türk concluded, “This is a moment of opportunity. The people of this country are tired of war. Peace is not just a Kurdish issue; it is a national necessity.”