The leader of Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party, Sezai Temelli, returned from a high-profile visit to Iraqi Kurdistan that many Kurds hoped was part of a fresh attempt to revive peace talks between Turkey and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). But while Temelli’s interlocutors said they would support any such initiative, nothing concrete involving the Kurdistan Regional Government is afoot, according to Iraqi Kurdish officials and members of the delegation who briefed Al-Monitor on the visit.

Diyarbakir Imam Tascier, a Democratic People’s Party (HDP) lawmaker who was part of Temelli’s delegation, told Al-Monitor, “The main purpose of our visit was to discuss intra-Kurdish unity. We did not ask for their help and there is no new peace process that has been set in motion that we are aware of, or that involves the KRG.” 

Tascier continued, “Erdogan’s rhetoric makes it quite clear that he has no interest in a peace process. Quite the opposite.”

Several KRG officials speaking not for attribution corroborated Tascier. One said, “There is nothing in the pipeline. But the HDP stressed their support for a peaceful resolution and said that the KRG and the Barzanis can play an important role."