Barzani, Erdogan Discuss Reviving Peace Process with PKK at Antalya Diplomacy Forum

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President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where both leaders touched on reviving the stalled peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

In a post on X, Barzani said he “reiterated the importance of reviving the peace process in Türkiye as a path toward stability and lasting peace,” urging the PKK to respond positively to the call of its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan. “This historic opportunity must be seized,” he added.

The meeting follows Erdogan’s high-profile talks on Thursday with a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, which has been playing a mediating role between Ankara and the PKK. The group recently reaffirmed its commitment to Öcalan’s call for disbandment and declared a unilateral ceasefire more than a month ago, though progress has been slow.

Barzani welcomed the Erdogan-DEM meeting, calling it a significant step toward dialogue and potential reconciliation. He described the peace process as “historic,” voiced appreciation for Erdogan’s role, and expressed the Kurdistan Region’s readiness to support efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution.

However, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges. The PKK continues to accuse Ankara of ongoing military operations despite the ceasefire, while Erdogan insists that the group must fully disarm “without further delay.” The PKK, founded in 1978, originally called for an independent Kurdish state but has since shifted its demands to autonomy. It is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU.

A Turkish government readout of the Barzani-Erdogan meeting did not directly mention the PKK, but emphasized “solidarity between Turkey and the regional administration in the fight against terrorist organizations.” The statement also noted Erdogan’s interest in broader regional developments, including government formation efforts in the Kurdistan Region.

Erdogan reportedly stressed the importance of swiftly forming a new government in the Kurdistan Region following last October’s long-delayed parliamentary elections. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) won the most seats but failed to secure a majority, and coalition talks remain ongoing.

The Turkish president also mentioned that Ankara is “closely monitoring the situation in Kirkuk,” a multi-ethnic, oil-rich province that has seen repeated political and security tensions.