Antalya: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Iraq currently treats the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization. He made this statement to reporters following his participation in the fifth meeting of the High-Level Security Mechanism between Turkey and Iraq, held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan emphasized that Iraq’s stance on the PKK is clear, with Baghdad having declared the PKK a banned organization. He stated that whether the PKK is labeled as a banned or terrorist organization is less important than the fact that it is considered illegal. Fidan highlighted the importance of the stance taken against the organization.

The meeting, which Fidan described as fruitful, resulted in the preparation of a joint statement. Both sides reviewed the security work accomplished so far and discussed ongoing security issues, particularly the fight against terrorism and potential security developments in the region.

The Iraqi government’s decision to label the PKK as a “banned organization” was formalized in July, following instructions from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. He instructed state institutions to use the term “banned organization” in their official correspondence regarding the PKK.