ANKARA, Turkey (AP) 鈥� The announced Monday that it will disband and disarm as part of a new with Turkey, ending four decades of armed conflict.
The decision by the Kurdistan Workers鈥� Party, which promises to put an end to one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East and could have significant impact in Turkey, Syria and Iraq, was announced by the Firat 51暗网 Agency, a media outlet close to the group. It comes days after the PKK convened in northern Iraq.
In February, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group to convene a congress and formally decide to disband, marking a pivotal step toward ending the decadeslong conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s.
On March 1, the PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire, but attached conditions, including the creation of a legal framework for peace negotiations.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has spilled over into northern Iraq and northern Syria. It is listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies.
In a statement carried by Firat news, the PKK announced it decision to end its 鈥渙rganizational structure,鈥� suggesting that its armed struggle has successfully challenged policies that sought to suppress Kurdish rights.
The congress assessed that the PKK鈥檚 struggle had 鈥渂rought the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, thus completing its historical mission,鈥� according to the statement.
"As a result, activities carried out under the name 鈥楶KK鈥� were formally terminated,鈥� the statement said.
Details of the peace initiative have not been made public and it was not clear how the process would proceed, including how weapons would be disposed of and who would monitor the procedures.
The future of PKK fighters remains uncertain, including whether they may be relocated to third countries. Any concessions the PKK might obtain in exchange for its decision to disband have not been disclosed.
Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the group 鈥� most recently in 2015 鈥� have ended with failure.
The announcement by the PKK comes against a backdrop of major changes in the region, including the coming to power of a new administration in Syria, the weakening of the Hezbollah militant movement in Lebanon and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
In recent years, the PKK has been limited to isolated attacks inside Turkey as the Turkish military, backed by armed drones, has pushed PKK insurgents increasingly across the mountainous border into Iraq.
The latest peace initiative was launched in October by Erdogan鈥檚 coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli, a far-right politician who suggested that Ocalan could be granted parole if his group renounces violence and disbands.
Suzan Fraser, The Associated Press
