Erdogan has been in the spotlight lately for his relentless fight against terrorism in the region. In phone calls with the Iraqi Prime Minister and the President of Azerbaijan, Erdogan made it clear that Turkey’s goal is the permanent eradication of terrorism. But the real drama is unfolding on the ground — members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has led a decades-long insurgency against Turkey, have symbolically laid down their arms in northern Iraq. Is this the end of the conflict or just a pause? Erdogan is optimistic and sees this step as a key moment in establishing lasting peace and security in the region.
At a working meeting of his AK Party in Ankara, Erdogan emphasized that the problems of the Kurds in Iraq and Syria are not just their problems, but Turkey’s as well. Now, he says, Turkey will shift its energy from fighting terrorism to development and stability. “Our mothers will no longer cry for their sons,” he declared, promising a safer and stronger Turkey, as well as safer and stronger Kurds and Arabs.
The PKK disarmament ceremony took place in the mountains near Sulaymaniyah, in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and the disarmament process is expected to be completed by September. The PKK, banned in Turkey since 1984, decided to cease armed struggle following the call of its leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999.
This development is a major step toward Turkey’s goal of eliminating terrorism and establishing peace in the region, but questions remain about how long this process will take and whether the conflicts will truly end. Erdogan’s policies remain controversial, but there is no doubt this is one of the most important moments in the last decade of Turkish politics.
Think this is the end or just the start of a new chapter? Feel free to drop a comment and share your thoughts — because in politics, like in life, nothing is ever black and white!
