Barzani calls on PKK to lay down its arms

Doğan News Agency

The president of the Kurdish Regional Administration, Mesut Barzani, has called on the outlawedKurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms and start civil dialogue, while speaking at a conference in Iraq’s northern province of Arbil.

Barzani commented on the awaited “Kurdish National Conference” plan, saying the only condition for thePKK to attend the conference was to become involved in politics and abandon arms, according to the reports from Peyamder, a website known for its close ties with the Kurdish Regional Administration.

“If the PKK shows good faith, stops the war and builds for peace, they can participate in the Kurdish National Conference, in which Kurds will tell the world that they build their policies based on dialog and diplomacy,” Barzani reportedly said.

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) leader Selahattin Demirtaş also attended the conference, which was organized in remembrance of the first independent Kurdish nation state in history, the Kurdish Republic of Mabahad, which existed between 1946 and 1947.

Demirtaş touched on the problems of Syrian Kurds during his speech, which he gave in the Kurdish language.

“Syrian Kurds need support; all the Kurdish movements should do their bit. The conference is crucial, and it has vital importance for us,” Demirtaş said.