AK Party spokesperson calls for complete disarmament of PKK in Syria, Iraq

AK Party Spokesperson Omer Celik addressed ongoing developments regarding calls for the PKK to disarm, emphasizing the government’s long-standing commitment to resolving Kurdish issues through democratic means while maintaining a firm stance against terrorism.

“Since yesterday, the call for the PKK terrorist organization to lay down its weapons has been on the agenda,” Celik said during a press briefing. He referenced President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s historic 2005 speech in Diyarbakir, where as prime minister, Erdogan declared, “Istanbul is as much Konya as it is Diyarbakir,” signaling a unified approach to the nation’s regions.

Celik highlighted Erdogan’s framing of the Kurdish issue as a democratic rather than ethnic problem, quoting the president’s declaration that “the Kurdish problem is my problem.” According to Celik, Erdogan has “fought greatly to remove restrictions on Kurdish citizens,” comparing this struggle to similar efforts for women wearing headscarves and for Alevi communities.

“His political life has resolved the Kurdish issue and the headscarf issue, which were created by prohibitions and pressures, through the will of our President,” Celik stated.

Goals for a “Terror-free Türkiye”

Following Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli’s recent call, which Celik described as one that would “increase brotherhood in the region,” the spokesperson emphasized the government’s ultimate objective.

“Today, we aim to achieve the goal of a terror-free Türkiye,” said Celik. “The terror-free Türkiye goal has been the President’s objective since his time as prime minister.”

Celik clarified that this vision requires comprehensive disarmament across borders: “The PKK terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria should lay down all its weapons and dissolve itself. When we say terrorist organization, we mean not only the one in Iraq but also the liquidation of the YPG/PKK in Syria. The terrorist organization PYD, YPG should lay down weapons with all its elements.”

No negotiations with terrorist organizations

Addressing speculation about potential negotiations, Celik firmly rejected such possibilities: “There is no such thing as the state entering a bargaining process. States have hard and soft elements in their fight against terrorism.”

The comments come amid renewed focus on Abdullah Ocalan’s call regarding disarmament, placing Turkiye’s counter-terrorism strategy within a broader geopolitical context where the government claims to pursue a “brotherhood policy appropriate to realities.”