Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his hope that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s step to lay down its arms would be a good omen toward achieving the goal of a “terrorism-free Turkey.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Erdogan, in a post on his social media account, expressed his desire for success in ensuring the security of Turkey, the tranquility of its people, and the establishment of lasting peace in the region. This hope comes in light of the PKK’s actions to begin disarmament in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, following a call from their leader, Abdullah ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦€š¬…€œcalan.

The initial phase of disarmament took place during a special ceremony where approximately 30 fighters, including four leaders, symbolically laid down their weapons. The entire disarmament process is projected to conclude by next September, signaling a significant shift in the PKK’s approach.

The process is being supervised by a committee that includes representatives from Turkish intelligence and military, in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Participants in the ceremony also included members of the PKK’s executive and central committees, along with pro-Kurdish Turkish parties.

‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦€š¬…€œcalan, the PKK’s historic leader imprisoned in Turkey since 1999, has called for a complete shift toward democratic politics and adherence to the rule of law, marking the end of the PKK’s four-decade armed struggle against the Turkish state. The PKK’s official announcement of dissolution and disarmament on May 12 marked the end of an insurgency that claimed at least 45,000 lives.