Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he hoped the important steps taken on the path to a terror-free Turkey “will yield positive results” after a group of PKK terrorists laid down their arms on Friday.

In a statement in X, cited by the Anadolu Agency, he wished God’s success on the path to ensuring “the security of our nation, the peace of our people and the establishment of lasting peace in our region.”

“The terrorist organization [PKK] announced its decision to disband in advance. As part of this decision, it took a step forward and laid down its arms in a ceremony (in northern Iraq on Friday). My dear people, yesterday the 47-year era of terrorism entered its final stage. This is a new day. Today a new page has been opened in the history of our country, the doors of a great and powerful Turkey have been opened wide,” Erdogan said, addressing members of the ruling Justice and Development Party.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed Erdogan's statements, saying that a very important step was taken today towards the goal of a terrorism-free Turkey. "The common hope of our nation is that this favorable development will become a process that permanently eliminates terrorism," Fidan said in an article also in X. He added that they will remain vigilant until the PKK ceases to be a threat in the country and the region.

A group of PKK terrorists laid down their weapons and destroyed them in the Sulaymaniyah province of northern Iraq. The 30 terrorists, including 15 women, destroyed their weapons by throwing them into a large burning cauldron.

In May, the terrorist group decided to disband and lay down its arms. The announcement followed a statement in February by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who called for the disbandment of the organization and its affiliates, demanding an end to the armed campaign that has lasted more than four decades. | BGNES