Turkish foreign minister says peace talks with PKK are progressing positively

Turkish foreign minister says peace talks with PKK are progressing positively

Turkey’s foreign minister said on Friday that negotiations between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are advancing in a constructive manner, offering one of the most optimistic assessments to date regarding the renewed peace initiative.

Ankara highlights support from European countries

Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Hakan Fidan said the dialogue is moving forward as planned. “Thanks be to God, the peace process is proceeding well,” he said, adding that European states — particularly Germany — have expressed positive backing for the ongoing efforts.

The renewed process follows a significant call in February by jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, who urged his supporters to end armed struggle and dissolve the PKK. The group complied by May and rebranded itself as the Kurdistan Freedom Movement, taking additional steps such as withdrawing its fighters from Mount Zap in Duhok province.

Parliamentary delegation meets Ocalan as part of the new framework

Earlier this week, a delegation from the Turkish parliamentary commission tasked with overseeing the peace process held its first meeting with Ocalan on Imrali Island. The 51-member commission was created to establish a legal basis for negotiations and guide the broader disarmament process.

On Thursday, a senior official from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) said Ocalan should be allowed direct communication with the public and political actors in Turkey, arguing that his involvement is essential for a lasting agreement.

German and Turkish FMs discuss Syria’s future

The press conference also addressed developments in Syria. Wadephul said Germany continues to support the rights of all communities in the country, one year after the end of Bashar al-Assad’s nearly 14-year rule. He emphasized that Berlin advocates for a “sovereign, multinational Syria,” adding that this position has been conveyed to interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Fidan stated that Turkey supports a strong central government in Damascus and stressed the importance of Syria’s territorial integrity.

SDF–Damascus talks continue over military integration

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus have been engaged in lengthy negotiations following a March agreement to integrate SDF fighters into the Syrian military structure. However, disagreements persist. The SDF seeks to join as a unified force, while the Syrian government insists on absorbing fighters individually into conventional army units.

Kurds and other minority communities have consistently called for decentralization to safeguard political and cultural rights, amid concerns that the interim government is consolidating power at the center.