Ankara: The Turkish Presidency has affirmed that the withdrawal of the PKK from Turkish territory represents a significant advancement towards disarmament. Burhaneddin Duran, the Director of the Communications Department of the Turkish Presidency, emphasized that the PKK’s move is a step towards achieving a “terror-free Turkey.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Duran highlighted on the Turkish “In Social” platform that the primary objective is to bolster peace and security within Turkey and ensure enduring peace and stability in the region. He noted that the evolving dynamics in the region and increasing global uncertainties impose new responsibilities on Turkey moving forward.

Duran further stated that unwavering commitment to the policies of a “terror-free Turkey” and establishing a “terror-free zone” is crucial to meeting these responsibilities and advancing the aims of a “strong Trkiye.”

Earlier, the PKK announced that its armed members within Turkey had started withdrawing to Iraq. A leader within the group declared that the PKK resolved to cease its organizational presence and armed activities as per decisions made at a conference in May, guided by their leader, Abdullah ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦€š¬…€œcalan.

The leader explained that, following ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦€š¬…€œcalan’s directives, the group’s armed members are withdrawing from Turkish soil to northern Iraq with ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦€š¬…€œcalan’s consent. During the announcement, a group of 23 individuals, reportedly among those who had left Turkish territory, were said to have arrived in Iraq.

On May 12, the PKK declared its intent to dissolve and disarm in response to a call from its founder, Abdullah ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦€š¬…€œcalan, who is serving a life sentence in Turkey. In February, ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦€š¬…€œcalan had urged for the dissolution of all PKK-affiliated groups and the cessation of their armed activities, which have persisted for more than four decades.