What does the peace process in Türkiye need?
To end the war between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a comprehensive peace agreement must be reached between both sides. For the peace process to succeed, there are steps that both the Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the PKK need to take.
The Turkish government should initiate an inclusive political process that recognizes the Kurds’ demands for their cultural, linguistic, and economic rights. A permanent dialogue mechanism should be established, involving all Kurdish parties in Turkey, including the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and civil society leaders. The Turkish constitution must be amended to reflect the country’s ethnic and cultural diversity, ensuring the Kurds’ right to use and teach their native language. Furthermore, anti-terrorism laws, which are often used against Kurdish political opponents, must be reviewed, and legal safeguards should be provided to protect freedom of expression and peaceful political activity.
Additionally, the Turkish government should promote economic and social development in the Kurdish regions of southeastern Turkey through economic programs aimed at raising living standards and providing job opportunities. Investments in infrastructure and public services, such as education and healthcare, should be increased. Moreover, the gradual release of Kurdish political prisoners, including HDP members and community leaders who have not been convicted of violence, should be pursued. Dialogue with Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned PKK leader, must continue as part of the peace process. On the military side, the Turkish government should announce a unilateral ceasefire and halt military operations against the PKK, particularly in Kurdish areas in Turkey and Iraq.
On the other hand, the PKK must declare a complete and unconditional ceasefire and cease armed attacks against Turkish targets. It must commit to ending violence as part of a political solution and pursue its goals through democratic channels. The PKK should transform into an official political party operating within Turkey’s democratic system and encourage peaceful solutions and integration into political life through existing parties, such as the HDP.
The PKK should also cooperate in a disarmament process in coordination with the Turkish government and the international community, and reintegrate its fighters into society. It is essential to provide assurances that PKK fighters who lay down their arms will not face legal prosecution or retaliation. Furthermore, the PKK must refrain from intervening in regional conflicts or using Iraqi or Syrian territory as bases for operations against Turkey, and it should collaborate with neighboring countries to ease border tensions and achieve regional stability.
To ensure the success of the peace process, both sides must accept neutral international mediation to support dialogue between the Turkish government and the PKK. The United Nations or the European Union could play a role in this regard. All talks should be transparent and public to ensure the support of both Kurdish and Turkish populations for the final agreement. Additionally, reconciliation programs between Turks and Kurds should be launched to address the harm caused to communities by the conflict. Awareness campaigns aimed at building trust and promoting peaceful coexistence among all citizens should also be implemented, ensuring acceptance of ethnic and cultural diversity.
Finally, a clear timeline for the implementation of all agreed-upon terms in the peace agreement must be established, with international monitoring to ensure compliance by both sides.
To end the conflict between Turkey and the PKK, Turkey must take bold steps toward political reform and recognize Kurdish rights, while the PKK must renounce violence and transition to political activity. Both sides need to cooperate in reconciliation efforts and commit to a peaceful future.
