Turkey: PKK disarmament could begin within days, Erdogan’s party says
The ruling party’s spokesperson said the disarmament process is imminent amid reports of a looming “goodwill” ceremony expected from the Kurdish militant group in early July.
ANKARA — The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the outlawed militant group that has fought with Turkey for Kurdish self-rule inside the country since 1984, may start laying down arms within days, Omer Celik, spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party said on Tuesday.
In a historic announcement in May, the PKK said it was ending the armed struggle against Turkey after its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan ordered his militant group to disarm and dissolve as part of peace talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.
“We’re now reaching a stage where [the start of disarmament] will take place within days,” Celik told journalists outside the ruling party’s headquarters in Ankara.
His remarks came after Iraqi Kurdistan-based media outlet Rudaw reported Monday that some 20-30 militants from the group will lay down arms in a public ceremony.
