Turkish Parliament Sets Fate of Öcalan Within New Peace Process Framework

Washington Announces Coalition Withdrawal Progress as State of Law Coalition Expresses Doubts

Baghdad – Qusai Mundher

The State of Law Coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, expressed skepticism about the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Coalition member Hussein al-Maliki said yesterday that “the U.S. forces had no intention to withdraw from Iraq, and the military movements underway are merely repositioning and troop rotations between bases.” He added that “the Americans only changed some sensitive military sites at Ain al-Asad base and other bases, and the goal is not withdrawal as some try to promote,” according to his statement.

Resetting Presence

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad confirmed that the process of resetting the presence of the international coalition forces in Iraq is proceeding according to agreements signed with the federal government, noting that the military arrangements aim to gradually transition to a bilateral security partnership while continuing to support operations against ISIS. The embassy spokesman said in a statement yesterday that “reports about a complete U.S.

withdrawal from Baghdad are false,” affirming that “actions are proceeding according to the scheduled timeline.” He added that “the international coalition against ISIS in Iraq has set a timetable to end its military missions, and its mission in Operation Inherent Resolve is still ongoing according to the set timeline for troop transfer and ending military operations in Iraq.” He continued that “the joint statement indicates a strategic shift in the coalition forces’ mission in Iraq, moving from a military role to a normal bilateral security partnership.”

Meanwhile, a Pentagon official confirmed that the resetting of the U.S. military presence in Iraq is proceeding according to the agreed plan, aiming to complete the coalition’s mission while continuing to support operations against ISIS from bases in Iraq and Syria until 2026, then gradually moving toward a bilateral security partnership. Social media circulated news yesterday about the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Baghdad. Sources clarified yesterday that “U.S. forces will withdraw from the heavily fortified Green Zone, which includes Western diplomatic centers, official headquarters, Baghdad airport, and the Joint Operations Command headquarters.”

The Iraqi government has repeatedly confirmed in recent times that the first phase of the withdrawal of U.S. forces operating within the international coalition to fight ISIS will end this year, with the second phase concluding next year.

Labor Party

On another front, the Turkish Parliament has given a deadline until the end of this year to the parliamentary committee responsible for setting the basic rules for the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which earlier announced its self-dissolution and disarmament after decades of conflict with Ankara.

The party announced its dissolution last May after decades of rebellion that resulted in at least 50,000 deaths, according to the Turkish president. The decision to dissolve the party came in response to a call from its leader Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned in Turkey since 1999. The parliamentary committee overseeing the peace process convened for the first time on August 5, chaired by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş.

Kurtulmuş announced the day before yesterday that “the committee will continue its work until the end of this year,” adding that “the decision made when establishing the committee was to end its work by December 31,” noting that “the deadline can be extended by two additional months if necessary.”

The committee will also determine the fate of the party leader, who is serving a life sentence in solitary confinement at Imrali Island prison.

In a Friday statement, the so-called Imrali delegation said it “held a three-hour meeting with Öcalan in his prison regarding the ongoing process,” adding that “democratic society, peace, and integration are the fundamental concepts behind this process, and results can be achieved based on them.”