The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced today a ceasefire with the Turkey, ending a 41-year-long war, following the call of its founder and leader Abdullah Ocalan, he explained in a statement.

“In order to pave the way to implement Apo’s call for peace and a democratic society, we declare a ceasefire as of today,” the PKK’s executive committee said in a message carried by the ANF agency, which is affiliated with the armed movement.

The PKK added that it hoped Ankara would release Ocalan, who has been held in near solitary confinement since 1999, in order to lead the disarmament process.