Abdullah Öcalan’s declaration paves way for end to 40-year conflict between militant Kurdish groups and Turkish state

• Jailed Kurdish leader calls for PKK to disarm

The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) has called on the group to disarm and dissolve itself, in a major development that paves the way towards ending the 40-year conflict between militant Kurdish groups and the Turkish state, and has far-reaching implications across the Middle East.

“I am making a call for the laying down of arms and I take on the historical responsibility for this call,” Abdullah Öcalan was quoted as saying in a letter read out by allies in Istanbul. “All groups must lay down their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself.”