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The PKK terrorist organization announced Sunday, Oct. 26 that it has begun a “full withdrawal of its members” from Türkiye to Iraq as part of ongoing peace talks aimed at advancing the process to its second phase.
The press statement was made by members of the terror group in the foothills of Mount Qandil near the city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq.
In the statement, read by a senior figure of the organization, it was noted that, in line with the decisions taken during the so-called congress held in May under the guidance of ringleader Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK had decided to end its organizational presence and armed activities.
"On the basis of decisions made at the 12th Congress, we are implementing the withdrawal of all our forces from within Turkish borders that create conflict risk and are exposed to possible provocations, with the approval of Leader Abdullah Ocalan," the terror group said.
The terrorist group is currently withdrawing its armed elements from within Türkiye’s borders to northern Iraq, as a part of this ongoing process, with the approval of ringleader Ocalan, the statement added.
Meanwhile, in the area where the statement was made, a group of 23 PKK terrorists said to have left Turkish territory and arrived in Iraq were also present.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, convened its congress in May and announced its dissolution, following a February call by its imprisoned ringleader, Abdullah Ocalan, for an end to the decades-long attacks.
The withdrawal announcement culminates eight months of concrete steps taken by the PKK since terrorist organization ringleader Abdullah Ocalan issued a call on Feb. 27.
The organization declared a ceasefire on March 1 to establish what it described as "a calm and comfortable discussion environment."
1 min read
Following that declaration, the PKK convened its 12th Congress between May 5 and 7, at which point it made formal decisions to end the organization's structural existence and abandon its "armed struggle strategy."
On July 11, a group of 30 PKK terrorists, including 15 women, surrendered and destroyed their weapons in Iraq's Sulaymaniyah province by throwing them into a burning cauldron.
7 min read
