This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the recent ceasefire agreement between the PKK and the Turkish state. 

The Kurdistan’s Worker’s Party (PKK) and the Turkish state have been in a state of conflict since 1984. The conflict has killed over 35,000 people and achieved little, for either side. 

But now, a ceasefire has been announced. In a symbolic ceremony, PKK fighters burnt their arms in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq; and more recently, a commission was started at the Turkish Parliament to discuss the Turkish parliament. 

Is this the opportunity for Kurds to secure their rights in Turkey? Why is the Turkish state agreeing to a ceasefire now? Is President Erdogan using the ceasefire talks to increase his grip on power?

Joining us to examine the Kurdish position, we speak with Dr. Salim Çevik (@salimcevikk), a visiting fellow at the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (@CATS_Network) at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (@SWPBerlin).

And to guide us through Turkish thinking, we speak with Henri Barkey (@hbarkey), adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (@CFR_org) and the Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen chair in international relations at Lehigh University (Emeritus) (@LehighU). 

This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).

Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.

To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email [email protected]

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