PKK

The agreement followed a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the two leaders said in a joint statement.

Bayik said the National Solidarity and Social Integration Law does not clearly connect the surrender of weapons with a transition to democratic politics.

Ocalan's anti-Israel statements should not automatically be regarded as a reflection of the general views of Kurdish society, since he has been in Turkish custody for decades.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union, has waged a conflict that has killed tens of thousands.

Turkey’s proposed PKK amnesty could reduce security pressures, ease tensions with Iraq, and allow Ankara to redirect military, intelligence, and economic resources across the region.

The draft law, some details of which surfaced last November, is focused on managing the return of PKK fighters and civilians from hideouts in northern Iraq, setting out how they will be processed.

Syria had already held types of limited elections in other areas of Syria last year. However, areas outside government control did not hold a vote.

Turkey’s peace process with Kurdish militants stalls as the Iran war deepens instability in the region, with both sides hesitant to take bold steps toward a resolution.

Today, Ankara appears to have changed course. It backs the new Syrian government and has appeared to support the Syrian Democratic Forces’ integration into the new Syrian security forces.

Baghdad issued a formal protest after remarks on PKK activity were seen as interference. Ankara says the comments were mistranslated and focused only on militants in Iraq.