Baghdad: The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announcement on Friday that it had begun the disarmament process.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the initial steps of this process were witnessed in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This initiative aligns with the party’s previous commitment to abandon armed activity after more than four decades of conflict. The Ministry described this step as an important development that embodies the actual beginning of the disarmament process. It emphasized that this represents a real opportunity to support stability and enhance lasting reconciliation efforts in the region, contributing to ending cycles of violence and opening new horizons for understanding and peaceful coexistence.
The Ministry affirmed its full support for this process, noting that this step paves the way for a new phase of constructive cooperation with its neighbor, the Republic of Turkey. This cooperation is based on joint action to address security challenges, thereby strengthening the sovereignty of Iraq and Turkey and preserving their security and stability. The Ministry expressed hope that this initiative would contribute to turning the page on political, security, and social tensions and serve as a starting point for a responsible regional dialogue that addresses the roots of the crises and enhances security and development for the benefit of all the peoples of the region.
On Friday, members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) began surrendering their weapons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as reported by Iraqi and Turkish media. This comes two months after the party announced the end of four decades of armed conflict against the Turkish state. Thirty PKK fighters, including four commanders, burned their weapons during the ceremony, held in a cave near the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq. This operation is part of the “Turkey Free of Terrorism” initiative, which was launched following the PKK’s announcement of its dissolution two months ago and its decision to surrender its weapons.