PSK Leader: No Viable Peace Process Without President Barzani

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The head of the Kurdistan Socialist Party (PSK), Bayram Bozyel, has emphasized that any enduring peace process involving the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish state must ensure constitutional guarantees for Kurdish national rights and include the active participation of the Kurdistan Region and President Masoud Barzani. Without such conditions, Bozyel said, the process will remain incomplete and ineffective.

Speaking to Kurdistan 24 on Tuesday, Bozyel welcomed the PKK’s announcement of disarmament as a “positive and legitimate step,” calling it potentially beneficial for all parts of Kurdistan — including the south (Kurdistan Region), west (Western Kurdistan), and north (Northern Kurdistan). However, he warned that laying down arms alone would not suffice unless it is followed by a constitutional roadmap that recognizes the Kurdish people’s right to self-governance.

Bozyel Criticizes Ocalan’s Position on Kurdish Statehood

While acknowledging the PKK’s internal decisions, Bozyel offered sharp criticism of the views held by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan regarding Kurdish identity and national status.

“Ocalan has stated that the Kurds do not need a political status,” Bozyel said. “This is a grave mistake. Such a statement suggests that he does not view Kurds as deserving of statehood or national recognition.”

The PSK leader went further, describing Ocalan’s dismissive remarks about Kurdish history and leadership as “offensive and disgraceful.” Bozyel pointed to Ocalan’s characterization of Kurdish historical leaders — including the Bedirxans, Barzanis, and the family of Sheikh Said — as collaborators with state powers, a narrative Bozyel condemned as “an insult to Kurdish heritage.”

He also criticized Ocalan’s past statements about the Kurdish language, saying the PKK founder had referred to it as “useless,” aligning with the official stance of the Turkish state and undermining Kurdish cultural identity.

“Without President Barzani, No Peace Process Can Succeed”

Central to Bozyel’s argument was the indispensable role of President Masoud Barzani and the Kurdistan Region in shaping the future of any sustainable peace initiative.

“Ocalan knows this issue is not just a domestic Turkish matter; it is an international question rooted in the broader Middle East,” Bozyel said. “For this reason, his call for dialogue with President Barzani and other prominent Kurdish leaders is significant.”

Bozyel underscored the strategic importance of the Kurdistan Region and its leadership on the regional and diplomatic stage. “President Barzani is a figure of credibility and influence among Kurds and world powers alike. Any peace process that excludes him or the Kurdistan Region is bound to fail,” he stated.

A New Political Vision for Kurdistan

Bozyel concluded by calling on all Kurdish political actors to redefine the Kurdish question not merely as a matter of disarmament but as a struggle for national rights and self-determination.

“Disarmament is not the final answer. It is only the removal of one obstacle,” he said. “True peace begins when the Kurdish people and their leaders articulate the Kurdish question as a national issue — the right to administer ourselves on our own land.”

Bozyel called for a constitutional guarantee of Kurdish cultural, linguistic, and political rights within a federal system, adding: “The Kurds must unify, consolidate their strength, and launch a new, modern, and Kurdistan-centric political campaign to secure these rights in any future constitution.”

His remarks align with growing calls across the Kurdish political spectrum for international recognition and participation in any negotiation framework involving Turkey and Kurdish factions, especially in the wake of recent PKK statements and renewed regional interest in Kurdish autonomy.