Some of the fighters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist by Ankara, began a ceremonial surrender of their weapons today near the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah - a step that Turkish authorities describe as "key" in the process of cleansing the country of terrorism, which began at the end of last year at the initiative of Devlet Bahceli, an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, BTA reported.
Last Sunday, a delegation of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), consisting of Kurdish MPs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar and lawyer Özgür Faik Erol, met and talked on the island of Imrali prison in the Sea of Marmara with the founder of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan. A statement from the DEM made it clear that Öcalan delivered important messages during the meeting.
Probably given the importance of the issue, Erdogan postponed his meeting with the DEM delegation, originally scheduled for Tuesday, by a day and it took place on Monday at the Beştepe Presidential Palace in Ankara. ”We held a fruitful and constructive meeting, in which Turkey's plan to fight terrorism was among the important topics. We are entering a period in which we expect good news in the coming days”, Erdogan told the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) assets, and his speech was also shared on social media.
At the same time, the PKK-friendly news agency “Fürat“ broadcast a video address by Öcalan, which is happening for the first time since 1999. In it, Öcalan stated ”that he continues to support his call of February 27, 2025 for a peaceful and democratic society”.
On Wednesday, the spokesperson for Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party, Ayşegül Doğan, said that PKK fighters would begin handing over their weapons on July 11 at a special ceremony in the city of Sulaymaniyah, northeastern Iraq.
Today, about thirty of the PKK fighters handed over their weapons, which were later burned at a special ceremony in northern Iraq, Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported. ”We hope that this step will bring peace and freedom. "Our people need a peaceful, free, equal and democratic life more than ever," one of the PKK commanders told about 300 people, reading a communiqué.
Shortly after the ceremony began, Devlet Bahçeli, an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed optimism about achieving the goal of cleansing Turkey of terrorism, which began at the end of last year on his initiative. “Indeed, as can be understood from the latest video message, the leadership that founded the PKK has kept its word and stood by its commitment, foreseeing global and regional threats to the process in a timely manner. In addition, the DEM party maintains a reasonable and responsible political line, sincerely adhering to the goal of a Turkey without terrorism and standing by the millennial brotherhood with balanced and accurate statements and assessments,“ Bahçeli wrote.
Later, the spokesman for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ömer Çelik said in a written statement that from now on, the process of disbanding the PKK, including all its branches and illegal structures, and returning its weapons should be completed in a short time.
“I hope that the important step taken today towards freeing Turkey from terrorism will be beneficial“, Erdogan wrote on his Ex profile late in the afternoon, adding: “May Allah grant us to achieve our goals on the path we are on for the security of our country, the peace of our nation and the establishment of lasting peace in our region“.
Describing today's ceremony as “a very important step towards achieving the goal of cleansing Turkey of terrorism“, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on his Ex profile that “Turkey will continue to be vigilant until the moment when the PKK and all its branches and illegal structures cease to pose a danger to the Turkish nation and the region“.