ANKARA/ISTANBUL, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated Wednesday progress in the disarmament process of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to a terror-free future.
The nation is "tearing off the bloody shackle" that has long held it back, Erdogan said on the social media platform X, amid rising expectations surrounding the potential disarmament of the PKK.
The Turkish president also urged public vigilance against "dark and corrupt circles" in the process by sabotage attempts. "We hope this auspicious process will conclude successfully in the shortest possible time," he added.
On Wednesday, Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the PKK, declared that the group has "abandoned its fundamental goal of establishing a nation-state," and details regarding disarmament will be swiftly implemented.
Ocalan made the remarks in a seven-minute video message from his prison on Imrali Island off Istanbul. The video was dated June and released on Wednesday by Firat News Agency, affiliated with the PKK.
Ocalan noted that this marks a voluntary transition from the phase of armed struggle to a phase of democratic politics and the rule of law, adding that "it should not be seen as a loss, but rather as a historic achievement."
He also urged the Turkish parliament to establish a commission to oversee the disarmament process and manage a broader political reconciliation.
The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union. The group announced its decision to disband and end its armed campaign in May. ■