Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), appeared in public for the first time in years - in a rare video published on Wednesday, he declared the end of the organization's armed struggle against the Turkish state, Reuters reported.

In the seven-minute recording, dated June and circulated by Firat News, an agency close to the PKK, Ocalan called on Turkey's parliament to set up a special commission to oversee the disarmament process and organize a broader peace process. 

"The phase of the armed struggle is over. It is not a defeat but a historic victory," Ocalan said. “The phase of armed resistance must now voluntarily give way to the phase of democratic politics and law. 

First appeal since 1999

This is the first time since his arrest in 1999 that a video of Ocalan or a recording of his voice has been published. The footage shows the leader of the Kurdish movement sitting in a light-colored polo at a table with a glass of water, with a printed text in front of him, which he is reading. Nearby are six other imprisoned PKK members - all looking directly into the camera.

“The main goal has been achieved.”

The PKK has waged an armed rebellion against the Turkish authorities for more than 40 years and is recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey itself, the US and the EU. In May this year, the PKK decided to dissolve itself following a written appeal by Ocalan in February. 

“The main goal has been achieved - the very existence is recognized,” Ocalan stressed. “Anything else would be unnecessary repetition and deadlock.” 

The new stage is through parliament 

The Kurdish leader also called on the DEM party, which currently holds the third seat in Turkey's parliament, to cooperate with other political forces and work exclusively through democratic mechanisms.