Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Turkish military yesterday denied reports that a first batch of PKK fighters had withdrawn from Turkish territory, thereby implementing part of the peace initiative that was launched last week by jailed party leader Abdullah Ocalan.

According to the Turkish newspaper Akşam, the PKK leadership in Mount Qandil, Iraqi Kurdistan, initiated the withdrawal of a first batch of around 100 armed troops from Turkey. The newspaper reported that the withdrawal process took place under air surveillance from Turkish planes—which remained committed to observations only. F-16 aircraft allegedly flew over the fighters who withdrew from the Hakkâri and Chernach regions of southern Turkey, to the regions of Juakourk and Zab within the unofficial border triangle comprising Iraqi, Turkish, and Syrian Kurdistan.

However, the Turkish Armed Forces chief of staff later said in a statement that this report was incorrect. Likewise, he also denied reports that the Turkish army has halted its operations against the PKK, and stated that the military is undertaking its duties in accordance with the legal rules.

Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), is currently visiting Turkey and held talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan late Monday evening. According to an accompanying source, the talks focused on “the ongoing peace process in Turkey, following jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s reconciliation initiative and renunciation of violence. The regional situation was also discussed, with Syria at the forefront.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the source revealed that Barzani had expressed his satisfaction with the start of the peace process in Turkey, and with the Turkish government’s response to the PKK leader’s initiative to stop fighting, renounce violence, and join the Turkish political process. He confirmed, “The KRG has repeatedly called to resolve the Kurdish issue and the ongoing conflict in Turkey through dialogue and negotiation. Today we have this opportunity, therefore the KRG—and its leadership—fully supports efforts to achieve peace in Turkey, and is ready to provide all forms of support and assistance to make this initiative a success.”

With regards to the Syria, the source reported that both sides stressed “the need to end the suffering of the Syrian people, because its continuation has implications for the countries of the region, given the increasing pace of the Syrian exodus.” Both sides expressed their mutual concern for developments on the ground inside Syria, and called for a rapid solution to put an end to the bloody conflict.

On the subject of relations between the KRG and Turkey, the source said, “Economic and trade relations occupied a part of the meeting, and both parties agreed to proceed with opening a second border crossing between Kurdistan and Turkey.” The source emphasized that both parties would be required to complete procedures in this regard.