Turkey's Intelligence Agency on Fight Against Terrorist Group

The disarmament process of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), banned by Ankara, is expected to conclude by September at the latest. This will be monitored by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, as reported by RIA Novosti.

According to the agency, the subsequent phases of the Kurdish militants' weapon surrender will not be covered by the media. The arms will be handed over in designated areas in Northern Iraq. Unlike ordinary members, the leadership of the PKK, comprising about 250 individuals, will not be allowed to remain in Iraq and Syria, which border Turkey. They will be permitted to travel to third countries, Turkish intelligence sources indicate.

Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, who is serving a life sentence in Turkey for terrorist activities, has urged all groups associated with the organization to lay down their arms and cease the armed conflict with Ankara. In May, the party held a congress where it decided to dissolve and put an end to the nearly 50-year confrontation with the republic's authorities.