Erdogan to Meet DEM Party Delegation Amid Advancing PKK Disarmament Process

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to receive a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party next week, in a move widely seen as pivotal to the accelerating process of PKK disarmament and political dialogue aimed at ending decades of conflict.

The announcement came on Tuesday from Justice and Development Party (AKP) Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, following a parliamentary consultation meeting chaired by President Erdogan at the AKP headquarters in Ankara.

Speaking to reporters, Çelik stated, “Our President will receive the DEM Party delegation next week. The exact date will be finalized according to the President’s schedule, but the meeting will indeed take place next week.”

‘Terror-Free Turkey’ Reaches Critical Juncture

Addressing the progress of the government’s “Terror-Free Turkey” initiative, Çelik revealed that the timeline for PKK disarmament has entered a decisive stage. “I previously said we expect developments within months, then weeks. Now, we are talking about days. The coming days will be of utmost importance,” he affirmed.

While Çelik declined to offer a specific calendar for the PKK’s complete disarmament, he noted that the process is unfolding naturally within its own pace and framework.

The remarks follow recent reports confirming that a group of PKK fighters will destroy their weapons in a symbolic public ceremony—a development described by PKK’s commanders as a “gesture of goodwill” toward lasting peace. According to AFP, the ceremony is intended to mark the group’s evolution from armed struggle toward political resolution.

The PKK had officially declared an end to its armed campaign in May, ending a conflict that began in 1984 and has cost more than 40,000 lives.

DEM Party Dialogue and Constitutional Discussions

The anticipated meeting between Erdogan and the DEM Party delegation will come ahead of a possible visit by the delegation to Imrali Island to meet with Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned PKK founder. Ocalan, whose influence remains central, is expected to issue a new message addressing the disarmament process and the group’s political transition.

When asked whether the government has established clarity regarding the ongoing constitutional commission talks, Çelik reiterated the AKP’s position that Turkey is in urgent need of a civilian constitution, one free of the legacy of military interventions. “The document on political and legal positions is the first phase of our work. It will take one or two more months. Afterward, the People’s Alliance will present a comprehensive framework, followed by consultations with other political parties,” he said.

As Ankara prepares for high-level political dialogue, and the PKK edges toward a formal transition, Turkey’s long-standing internal conflict enters what officials hope will be its final chapter—underpinned by accountability, inclusion, and irreversible demilitarization.