Erdogan’s claim about PKK’s disarmament
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), claimed during a meeting with ministers and parliament members at the party headquarters in Ankara that the PKK would lay down its arms and dissolve the organization today or tomorrow.
He added: “After this stage, a new era will begin for everyone, and the role of politics in this phase will be extremely critical.”
These statements come as the İmralı Process, which began on October 22 with the declaration of the government led by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has so far not resulted in concrete action toward imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call to abandon violence (halt military operations).
Erdogan continued with a warning about upcoming challenges: “Some may try to exploit this situation for political gains. We must be prepared; the path ahead will not be easy.” Addressing his supporters, he emphasized: “I trust you in this matter.”
Earlier in April, sources close to the Turkish government had reported the imminent dissolution of the PKK, but this claim remained without official follow-up.
