Turkey's PKK disarmament opens a new chapter, Erdogan says.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has called for full support for the disarmament of Kurdish militants, which began with the PKK's delivery of the first batch of weapons. Erdogan says this marks a new chapter for Turkey, and the Parliament will play a key role in establishing a legal framework for the disarmament process. The PKK, in conflict with Turkey since 1984, has decided to dissolve, disarm, and end its separatist fight.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hailed the disarmament process initiated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a historic development, marking a new chapter in Turkey's history. The PKK, which has been in conflict with Turkey since 1984, has decided to dissolve and disarm, ending its separatist fight [1].

The disarmament process began with a symbolic ceremony in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq, where 30 PKK members burned their weapons. This move follows a public call from the group's leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who urged the PKK and its affiliates to end their four-decade armed campaign [1].

Erdogan has called for full support for the disarmament process, stating that it marks a new chapter for Turkey. The Turkish Parliament will play a key role in establishing a legal framework for the disarmament process. Erdogan emphasized that the "scourge of terrorism has entered the process of ending" [1].

The disarmament process has gained international support, with the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas J. Barrack, describing it as a "historic development." The U.S. has long maintained that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are dominated by the YPG, which it considers the Syrian arm of the PKK [2].

The disarmament process is expected to have wider consequences for the region, including neighboring Syria. The U.S. and Turkey want Syrian Kurds to integrate into Syria's new government, which could be further pushed following the PKK's disarmament [1].

The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq has also expressed full support for the disarmament process, calling it "a genuine opportunity to support regional stability and advance lasting reconciliation efforts" [3].

The PKK's disarmament could lead to a reduction in security risks for Turkey and the broader region. However, the process will require significant effort and coordination between Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdish regional government in Iraq.

References:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/12/pkk-disarmament-opens-new-page-in-history-for-turkiye-erdogan-says
[2] https://indianexpress.com/article/news-today/turkey-pro-kurdish-party-says-it-discussed-pkk-disarmament-in-erdogan-meeting-10112069/
[3] https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/us-ambassador-calls-pkk-disarmament-historic-development-as-international-community-w-3204163