Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his satisfaction with the beginning of the disarmament of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members, characterizing the development as a significant step towards achieving the goal of a Turkey without terrorism. The message he posted on platform X refers to the symbolic disarmament ceremony that took place in Northern Iraq.
Erdogan’s message on PKK disarmament
In his message, the Turkish President emphasized: “I hope the significant step taken today towards achieving our goal of a Turkey without terrorism will mark the beginning of positive developments. I pray that Almighty God will help us achieve our goals in this struggle we are waging for the security of our country, the peace of our nation, and the establishment of lasting peace in our region.”
Ankara’s position on the disarmament process
Ankara welcomed the ceremony as a “point of no return” on the path to a future without terrorism. A senior Turkish official stated that “the laying down of arms by the PKK in Sulaymaniyah marks a concrete and welcome step towards ending the group’s decades-long campaign of violence.” This process represents a milestone in the third phase of the ongoing disarmament and self-dissolution process.
The same official added that “Turkey remains committed to supporting all efforts that prioritize disarmament, stability, and lasting reconciliation in the region.”
Statements from Devlet Bahceli
President Erdogan’s governing partner, nationalist Devlet Bahceli, expressed his satisfaction with the development: “The founding leadership of the PKK kept its promise, stood behind its commitment, and timely recognized global and regional threats. Indeed, we are living through days of exceptional importance, both for Turkey and for our region.”
Bahceli also argued that “DEM, maintaining a prudent and responsible political line, remained sincerely faithful to the goal of a Turkey without terrorism, and with balanced and accurate statements and assessments, took the side of millennial brotherhood.”
The process that led to disarmament
The process of laying down arms by the PKK was initiated when Abdullah Ocalan, from prison on Imrali Island, issued an appeal on February 27 for the dissolution of the organization and its disarmament. This appeal came in response to Bahceli’s related proposal, who communicated by phone with Tayyip Erdogan regarding the PKK disarmament process.
The symbolic ceremony in Northern Iraq
On Friday, July 11, 30 PKK fighters destroyed their weapons in a symbolic ceremony in Northern Iraq, in a development characterized as historic. The ceremony took place within the framework of resolving the Kurdish issue in Turkey and ending the bloody insurgency that has lasted for 41 years.
Key elements of the ceremony:
• 15 women and 15 men fighters participated in the process
• The surrender of weapons took place near the city of Sulaymaniyah
• The ceremony was held on the outskirts of Mount Qandil
• The weapons were thrown into a cauldron and surrendered to the flames
The area is controlled by the autonomous Kurdish government of Northern Iraq, while the main base of the organization’s fighters is located on the outskirts of Mount Qandil. According to Turkish officials, the disarmament process is expected to last from two to five months.
