Historic reconciliation agreement expected to be announced in Parliament

In efforts to end the decades-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government initiated the reconciliation process, which began when a ceasefire was signed between the government and the PKK in 2013, followed by a series of democratic reforms to improve the rights of Turkey's Kurdish population. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) delegation met with Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK's jailed leader, on February 4 in which Öcalan reportedly demanded that the group's armed wing in northern Iraq disarm as a crucial attempt to bring a final resolution to the process. While the government expects the reconciliation process to be successfully finalized before the deadline, local sources report that Öcalan and PKK seniors in the Qandil Mountains in Iraq will call on the organization to lay down its arms on Nawruz on March 21. According to local media sources, a reconciliation board is to be established on İmralı Island where Öcalan is being held, and the finalized decision of the reconciliation process will be announced in Parliament.

While all sides expect an announcement of disarmament from İmralı and the Qandil Mountains, the HDP is expected to speak on behalf of Öcalan in Parliament, as the AK Party is also expected to address members of Parliament. Sources say that both parties will address Parliament regarding the reconciliation process, and all other parties, especially the Republican People's Party (CHP), will be expected to contribute to the process. While Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli continuously says that his party will stand against the reconciliation process until the end, the CHP also holds a similar stance and claims that the reconciliation process is not as transparent as it should be. In regard to the final stages of the process, all sides expect a representative from the CHP to contribute to the process. Additionally, once senior PKK officials in the Qandil Mountains agree to Öcalan's call for disarmament, Turkey will make remarks in support of the reconciliation process. One will be recording all stages of the process and allowing PKK members who had fled to different European countries to return to Turkey. Also, a monitoring board will be established to supervise and manage the ceasefire process. Regarding the expected call for disarmament to the PKK by its leadership in Iraq and Öcalan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "It is an expected announcement by everyone, yet along a highly significant approach to the reconciliation process."

Local sources also report that Turkey would allow those who have not engaged in armed protests to be able to participate in the upcoming June general elections. In regard to Turkey's spring agenda, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said: "Regardless of political beliefs in Turkey, all should stay away from armed protests and battles and seek democratic resolutions. We are hoping to see this explicit declaration of intent from all citizens, which would provide everyone an extended practice of political democracy. This spring will hopefully be filled with positive developments in Turkey both politically and socially." While local media outlets report that the government and the Kurdish side may successfully settle the process within the next two or three days, Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan, the Cabinet member who regularly holds talks with the HDP on the Kurdish issue, recently said that with the current course of the reconciliation process, it may be successfully concluded prior to the March deadline.

In addition, for the government and the Kurdish side, there has been an emphasis on the process going smoothly and a respectable number of PKK members have laid down their weapons and have surrendered within the last few months. In efforts to successfully finalize the reconciliation process, sources report that the government will provide suitable judicial reforms for those who surrender from the PKK and expect more PKK members to lay down their weapons and surrender as part of the spring agenda. Sources also indicate that the reconciliation process has reportedly been continuing under Erdoğan's supervision and that once the HDP delegation and AK Party members confirm the agreement, the finalized announcement statement will first be submitted to Erdoğan.