The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has demanded that Turkey ease prison conditions for its founder Abdullah Ocalan, declaring him the "chief negotiator" of the group for future negotiations after the decision to dissolve, reports "Agence France-Presse".
On May 12, the Kurdish group, blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies, announced that it had taken a decision to disarm and disband after a decades-long rebellion against the Turkish state that has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
The PKK's historic decision came after Ocalan appealed in a letter from Imrali prison in Istanbul, where he has been held since 1999.
Zagros Hiva, a spokesman for the PKK's political wing, said that "we expect the Turkish state to make changes to the conditions of isolation" to allow Ocalan "free and secure working conditions so that he can lead the process".
"Leader Apo is our chief negotiator" for any negotiations with Turkey, Khiva added, referring to Öcalan. According to him, only he can lead the practical implementation of the decision taken by the PKK.
The mechanisms for the dissolution are not yet clear, but the Turkish government has indicated that it will closely monitor the process to ensure its full implementation.
Khiva noted that the PKK has shown "seriousness regarding peace", but "so far the Turkish state has not given any guarantees and has not taken any measures to facilitate the process" and has continued "bombardments and artillery shelling" against the Kurdish group's positions.
The PKK operates rear bases in Iraq's autonomous region of Northern Kurdistan, where Turkey also maintains military bases and frequently carries out air and ground operations against Kurdish fighters.
According to Turkish media reports, extremists who have not committed crimes on Turkish territory can return without fear of prosecution, but PKK leaders may be forced into exile or remain in Iraq.
Khiva said the PKK opposes any of its members or leaders being forced to leave, stressing that "true peace requires integration, not exile".