Turkish panel on PKK peace holds inaugural meeting

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Aug 2025 17:41

Turkish Parliament forms a 51-member committee to oversee PKK disarmament, following the group’s official dissolution and a peace initiative led by Abdullah Öcalan.

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Forces of the regional Kurdish administration secure the area of the Jasana Cave ahead of a symbolic disarmament ceremony by the PKK as part of the peace process with Turkey, in Sulaymaniyah governorate, Iraq, Friday, July 11, 2025 (AP)

A newly established Turkish parliamentary committee, assigned to monitor a peace process with a Kurdish militant organization, has convened its first meeting, representing a major advancement in efforts to resolve a conflict that has persisted for decades.

The 51-member committee, which includes lawmakers from nearly all major political parties, has been tasked with developing and overseeing legal and political measures to support the peace efforts, coming after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced its decision to dissolve and disarm.

Last month, militants from the group initiated the disarmament process by surrendering their weapons in a ceremonial event held in northern Iraq, marking the first tangible step toward decommissioning arms.

During the opening session, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus described the committee’s establishment as a "historic turning point," emphasizing its significance by stating, "The commission gathered here is no ordinary delegation; it is a historic one, demonstrating the courage to repair our future and the will to strengthen social integration." The committee is anticipated to determine its next steps and choose an official designation.

The first phase of disarming the PKK began on July 11 with a ceremony in northern Iraq, marking the implementation of the dissolution of the group and the termination of its conflict with Turkey after four decades of fighting.

According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Turkey, the initial group of PKK militants has commenced handing over their arms, initiating a disarmament process in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region following the group’s commitment to end its armed struggle.

These ceremonies signify a crucial phase in the move from armed conflict to political dialogue, coming after the PKK's official declaration of dissolution on May 12, which was made in response to an earlier call by its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, from İmralı Island prison on February 27.