Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hailed the disarmament of PKK militants as a historic breakthrough, declaring it a pivotal moment in Turkey’s decades-long battle against terrorism.

"Today is a new day; a new page has opened in history," Erdogan said in a televised address on Saturday, framing the development as the beginning of a new era for the country.

His remarks came one day after 30 PKK fighters reportedly surrendered and burned their weapons at the entrance of a cave in northern Iraq, a symbolic gesture widely viewed as the first tangible step toward dismantling the armed wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party. 

"ابتداءً من يوم أمس، دخلت بنية الإرهاب، التي استمرت 37 عاماً، مرحلة الانتهاء في تركيا"

الرئيس التركي رجب طيب #إردوغان خلال الاجتماع التشاوري الـ 32 لحزب العدالة والتنمية#تركيا pic.twitter.com/6mLpCaWwbC

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 12, 2025

"As of yesterday, the scourge of terrorism has entered the process of ending," Erdogan declared, adding that "Turkey has begun to close a painful and tearful chapter. The doors of a great, powerful Turkey have been flung wide open."

The president’s remarks were delivered with a tone of both triumph and reconciliation. Erdogan emphasized that this development marks not just a political milestone, but a national transformation.

Legislative reforms and unity efforts to follow

Looking ahead, Erdogan said his government will propose new legislation to facilitate the transition toward peace and national cohesion.

“We'll set up a commission in our parliament to discuss the legal requirements of the process,” he stated. “We will work together, shoulder to shoulder, and we’ll overcome all obstacles.”

Erdogan stressed that the moment belongs to the entire nation, not just his government or his party.

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“Turkey has won, my nation has won. Turks, Kurds, Arabs; every one of our 86 million citizens has won,” he said. “Whatever we do, we do it for Turkey, for our nation, for our independence, for our future.”

In a pointed message aimed at fostering national unity, Erdogan extended a call for solidarity to the Kurdish communities in both Turkey and Iraq. “To the Kurds of Türkiye and Iraq: Your issue is our issue, and your safety is important to us,” he said, underscoring a shift in tone amid recent moves toward reconciliation.

Referencing the devastating Israeli genocide in Gaza, he framed the war as a stark warning against internal divisions, stressing that "What’s happening in Gaza today are some of the most horrific scenes in history, because Kurds, Turks, and Arabs chose division over unity."

Moreover, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to national sovereignty and internal peace, issuing a firm warning to any actors seeking to undermine the state.

“We will not let anyone trample on our country’s honour, and we will never bow our heads,” he said. “We will not participate in any initiative that threatens our unity, homeland, nation, or peace.”

He also framed the disarmament as a launching point for a renewed national vision.

“Today, the dawn of a great and powerful Turkey is breaking,” Erdogan said. “We are pursuing our project for a terror-free Turkey with this understanding. This is the Century of Turkey.”

Wider context

Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan announced the formal cessation of the banned group's armed campaign against Turkey on July 9, in a video message that constituted his first appearance since he was imprisoned in 1999.

In a June-recorded message published on Wednesday by Firat News Agency, Öcalan urged Turkey's parliament to establish a monitoring committee for voluntary disarmament and initiate comprehensive peace efforts.

Öcalan declared that the PKK has abandoned its separatist objectives and national liberation doctrine, asserting that with Kurdish identity now recognized in Turkey, the group's founding purpose has been achieved, making its armed struggle unnecessary.

The jailed leader of the PKK demanded that weapons be publicly handed over to official authorities to ensure transparency and demonstrate commitment to peace, while stressing the need for a legally recognized disarmament process supervised by parliament.

Turkey and the PKK came to an agreement aimed at ending the decades-long armed conflict and transitioning the group entirely into legal political activity, after reaching a ceasefire in March.