Turkish President praises the start of the disarmament process of Kurdish separatists

In a speech delivered during a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara, he stressed that the armed conflict with Kurdish separatists, which has lasted for over four decades, is entering a new, peaceful phase.

“The scourge of terrorism that has plagued our country for over 40 years is finally on the way to an end,” Erdoğan said, referring to the activities of the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

The day before, images from northern Iraq had flashed around the world, showing PKK members tossing firearms—including rifles and machine guns—into a massive cauldron to be burned. This symbolic gesture was hailed as the first step toward disarmament and the beginning of a new phase in the peace process aimed at ending one of the region's bloodiest insurgencies.

This turning point came after a February appeal by the founder and leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned on İmralı Island near Istanbul since 1999. He called on his organization to convene a congress at which the PKK would formally disband and lay down its weapons. In May, the group's representatives announced they would implement this demand.

PKK members destroy weapons

Photo: KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY MEDIA OFFICE/Handout via REUTERS

The PKK launched an armed rebellion against the Turkish state in 1984, initially seeking the creation of an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey. Over the years, its demands have evolved into demands for greater autonomy and civil rights for Kurds.

The conflict, which has also spilled over into Iraq and Syria, has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, both soldiers and civilians. There have been previous attempts to end the fighting, but peace talks have repeatedly failed. The last such negotiations collapsed in 2015.

This time, the Turkish authorities firmly distanced themselves from any suggestions of concessions. "The project of a terror-free Turkey is not the result of negotiations, bargains, or agreements," Erdoğan emphasized. At the same time, he announced the establishment of a parliamentary commission to monitor the disarmament process and ensure its transparency.

In a statement on Friday, the PKK said the gesture of disarmament was an expression of "goodwill" and "commitment to the practical success" of the peace process. "We will henceforth continue our fight for freedom, democracy, and socialism through democratic politics and legal means," the statement emphasized.