The beginning of a new era for Turkey, the Kurds, and the Kurdish issue?

from The Greek Current · host Hellenic Leaders

On Monday the Kurdistan Workers’ party, or the PKK, made a historic announcement that it would disband, ending its four-decade-long armed campaign against the Turkish state. The move comes amid a new push to end this conflict, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives and spilled over into Syria and Iraq. Alan Makovsky, a senior fellow for the Center for American Progress and a former senior staffer with responsibility for Turkey on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down whether this really marks a turning point for Turkey and the Kurds’ struggle for political and cultural rights.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:PKK ends 40-year war against Turkey, vows to pursue Kurdish rightsIs Turkey’s four-decade Kurdish insurgency coming to an end?German, Greek PMs stay tough on migrationCyprus says Syria will take back citizens trying to reach the Mediterranean island by boat

What this episode covers

Alan Makovsky, a senior fellow for the Center for American Progress and a former senior staffer with responsibility for Turkey on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down whether the PKK's decision to disband really marks a turning point for Turkey and the Kurds’ struggle for political and cultural rights.