Turkey welcomes PKK withdrawal as ‘step in the right direction’
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) –
The Turkish Presidency said on Monday that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)’s announcement to withdraw its fighters from Turkish territory marks “a step in the right direction” toward ending decades of conflict.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz described the move as “an important and positive step,” noting that Ankara is “closely following this process.”
Yılmaz said that the PKK’s decision to withdraw its members from Turkey and its borders is a step in the right direction, emphasizing that removing the shadow of weapons will help strengthen democratic politics and allow greater focus on economic development and social welfare.
On Sunday, the PKK declared the withdrawal of its fighters from Turkish soil, calling it “a historic step and the beginning of the second phase of the Peace and Democratic Society initiative” launched by the party’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in İmralı Prison since 1999.
Yılmaz added that the Turkish government expects “the continuation of concrete steps in this direction” to ensure the process advances.
On Sunday, Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said the government welcomes the development, describing it as a “tangible outcome of efforts to end a conflict that has persisted for four decades.”