President Erdogan to meet Kurdish-oriented DEM Party delegation on April 10
President and Leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during his party's group meeting at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, Türkiye on March 12, 2025. (AA Photo)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also leads the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), is set to meet with a delegation from the Kurdish-oriented Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Thursday, April 10.
The meeting is reportedly scheduled for 1:30 p.m. local time at the Presidential Complex in Bestepe, in the capital Ankara. It marks Erdogan’s first talks with Kurdish-oriented political representatives in 13 years. His last such meeting took place in 2012, when he was prime minister.
Speaking during the AK Party parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan said, “Tomorrow, we will receive the DEM delegation and meet with them and confirm our will to achieve the goal of ‘Terror-free Türkiye.’”
The DEM Party delegation will include MPs Sirri Sureyya Onder and Pervin Buldan.
PKK ringleader’s disarmament call
The meeting comes after the DEM Party’s so-called “Imrali delegation” held talks with other political parties, following a call by Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned ringleader of the PKK terror group, for the group to lay down its arms.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the EU, has waged a 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and the elderly. The YPG is the PKK’s affiliate in Syria.
President Erdogan had earlier stated he would consider a meeting if such a request was formally made.
On Monday, AK Party spokesperson Omer Celik confirmed the possibility of a meeting this week and noted that Erdogan might grant an appointment to the DEM delegation.
