The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced today that a mechanism will be established in coordination with other countries to hand over weapons to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters, Turkish private television CNN Turk reported, quoted by BTA.
The ministry made this announcement in its first statement after the group's announced decision to disband. "The relevant units of our country will establish a mechanism to hand over weapons in coordination with partners from the countries in the region," the ministry said at its regular weekly press conference.
The ministry pointed out that "the decision taken must be implemented in practice without wasting time," adding that it will closely monitor this process, NTV television reported. "The Turkish Armed Forces will continue to resolutely fight against terrorist organizations that pose a threat to our country, our nation, the stability of our region and humanity, no matter what they are called", the statement said.
The ministry said it would continue its activities in areas used by the PKK, to survey the terrain, find and destroy caves, shelters, hideouts, mines and improvised explosive devices, "until it is guaranteed that the region is cleared and will not pose a threat to our country again".
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been declared a terrorist group, announced on May 12 that it had disbanded, thus ending its armed struggle against the Turkish authorities. The weapons handover phase should be completed within 3-4 months, according to a roadmap for the further process, which was reported by the Turkish newspaper. "Sabah".