Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Movement (DEM) party is meeting President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to discuss the ongoing peace efforts with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). This comes after the PKK decided in May to disband and end its armed struggle. The meeting aims to push forward the disarmament process and build trust between both sides.
DEM recently met with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in prison, who emphasized the importance of their upcoming meeting with President Erdogan. The party described this encounter as historic, highlighting a hopeful step toward lasting peace after decades of conflict. The PKK has been fighting the Turkish state for over 40 years, causing thousands of deaths and economic hardship.
Turkish media reports suggest that the PKK will begin handing over weapons in Iraq later this week. The handover will follow a set timeline and will be carefully recorded by authorities to ensure transparency. This development is seen as a major breakthrough in reducing violence in the region.
President Erdogan will receive the DEM delegation in Ankara, where they will discuss the progress made and the next steps for the peace process. Meanwhile, Turkey’s intelligence head, Ibrahim Kalin, is set to travel to Baghdad to meet Iraqi officials and coordinate the PKK’s disarmament efforts within Iraq.
Although the PKK called for disarmament, clashes between Turkish forces and militants have continued in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. Ankara says it remains vigilant, conducting raids on PKK bases to prevent renewed attacks while supporting the peace initiative.
This peace process offers hope for ending one of the longest-running conflicts in the region. If successful, it could reduce violence, ease economic pressures, and improve social stability in Turkey and its neighboring areas.