Kurdish politician Hişyar Özsoy, evaluating recent developments in the Kurdish question, noted that Turkey is undergoing a complex, undefined, and directionless process. He said, “Particularly the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) decision to dissolve itself and abandon the armed struggle, following the call of Abdullah Öcalan, has brought hopes for peace and a solution back onto the agenda.”

Hişyar Özsoy also emphasized that the military and diplomatic developments in Rojava are not confined to a single region but are of a scale that will affect all of Syria and the broader Kurdish political landscape.

He stressed that the issues in Rojava and Northern (Bakur) Kurdistan have now become deeply interconnected. “The Turkish state is facing a serious deadlock when it comes to establishing a foundation for negotiating the Kurdish question. As discussions about a new political architecture unfold, the role of Mr. Öcalan is becoming increasingly significant. These developments are not limited to one part of Syria; they reflect a broad military and political picture that could reshape the entire Syrian political landscape.”

Özsoy explained: “Today, the matters of Rojava and Northern Kurdistan are inextricably linked. This is precisely why we are witnessing a moment when the problems of a divided Kurdistan can be addressed simultaneously. A two-day workshop is currently being held with participants from different parts of Kurdistan. The meeting focuses on the situation in Kurdistan, developments in Rojava and Bakur, and the process of building a national alliance.”

He continued: “Turkey is going through a complex period. In this process, which still lacks a clear name or definition, hopes remain alive that violence may come to an end and democratic politics may prevail.” Referring to the initiative taken by Mr. Öcalan, Özsoy added, “The decision taken at the PKK congress to abandon the armed struggle sent a message to the state about the need to establish a legal and political framework.”

This step has been positively received both in Turkey and by the international public. However, it is difficult to say that the government or the state has taken any meaningful actions that would inspire public confidence. Some legal changes regarding prison execution laws are expected, but they are not yet sufficient to provide genuine legal reassurance.

Özsoy argued that the lack of any change in Mr. Öcalan’s conditions of freedom and ability to work reflects the government’s intention to stretch the process over time. He said: “The Kurds are in a position ready for negotiation, but the state side approaches the issue with a far more hesitant, stalling, and elimination-oriented perspective. However, the Kurds, through their parties, people, municipalities, and diaspora, have developed a unified approach. Now, a political space must be opened, and an environment for negotiations must be created to solve this issue through dialogue.”

Özsoy stated that for the process to succeed, the state must demonstrate genuine political will: “Kurds are ready for negotiation. They are ending the armed struggle with a historic decision. The state must respond to this call. A few meaningful reforms and concrete legal steps would be enough to rekindle hope. Otherwise, this too will be remembered as yet another hope extinguished before it could be realized.”