Jailed Kurdish Militant Leader Calls on Followers to Disarm, End 40-Year Conflict With Turkey

Mazloum Abdicommander

In the case of having a withdrawal, that will lead to chaos,

Abdi said

Mazloum Abdicommander

ISIS has taken advantage of the security gap

Abdi said

We believe it will help bring peace to this troubled region, ... We hope that it will help assuage our Turkish allies about U.S. counter-ISIS partners in northeast Syria."

Hughes said, adding

Mazloum Abdicommander

Just to make it clear, this is only for the PKK. It is nothing related to us here in Syria,

said General Mazloum Abdi, speaking to reporters in Washington from his base in northeastern Syria via video

When the peace flowers between Turkey and PKK, that will have its own positive consequences on us,

Abdi added, speaking through a translator

We [are] doing our best ... securing these prisons, which is not [an] easy task at all due to the constant attacks against us in the region,

the SDF's Abdi said Thursday, in response to a question from VOA

It's a significant development,

said White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes in a statement to VOA

If there is peace in Turkey, that means there is no excuse to keep attacking us here in Syria,

he said

Nechirvan BarzanikRG President

We warmly welcome the message of Mr Ocalan and his call for disarmament and the cessation of PKK's armed struggle,

Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, said in a statement

We welcome progress towards peace and security for the people of Turkey, a close NATO Ally and longstanding partner in counter-terrorism. We encourage all parties to engage in a peaceful and constructive process that ensures security, stability, and respect for the rule of law,

a UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said

Ocalan's call offers a chance at last to overcome this violent struggle and reach a lasting peaceful development in the Kurdish question,

the spokesperson said

An end to violence is an important first step, but more steps are needed to reach a sustainable solution for people in Turkey. That includes respecting and upholding Kurds' cultural and democratic rights."

A German foreign ministry spokesperson said