Erdogan expects ‘concrete’ steps on commission overseeing peace with PKK

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday underscored the critical role of parliament and a soon-to-be-formed legislative commission in advancing the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a move he framed as essential to ending a nearly half-century conflict that he said has cost Turkey an estimated $2 trillion.

Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) 32nd Consultation and Evaluation Meeting in Ankara, Erdogan praised the symbolic disarmament ceremony held in the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani province on Friday, stating “Our half-century of patient struggle is slowly coming to fruition.

“We have already started to see concrete signs of this. The ceremony held on Friday was meaningful in this regard.”

The PKK on Friday held a landmark ceremonial disarmament in the Region’s eastern Sulaimani province with 30 members and commanders burning their weapons before heading back to their hideout. The decision to lay down arms was made following a February call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan for the group to pursue politics instead of armed conflict.

In a video message recorded on June 19 and released Wednesday, Ocalan reaffirmed his group’s historic departure from armed struggle and called for a “comprehensive legislative commission” to guide the peace process with the Turkish state.

Importantly, Erdogan on Sunday acknowledged the latter proposal, stating that his country's parliament speaker “is already conducting the work for the formation” of such a body, adding, “We hope to receive concrete news from there soon.”

The Turkish president emphasized broad political alignment behind the peace push, stating that key parties - including the AKP, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) - shared a commitment to resolving the conflict.

He called on all political factions to back the parliamentary initiative, warning against “small calculations” that could derail the process. “No one has the right to sabotage or disrupt it.” He also underscored the importance of national unity, framing the success of the peace process as a collective triumph where "Turks, Kurds, Arabs - all 86 million citizens - emerge as winners."

Erdogan further detailed that the cost of the conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state has cost Turkey an estimated $2 trillion in economic losses. “We will hopefully now spend these resources” on “all segments of our 86 million citizens,” he said.

Looking to the future, the Turkish president linked the peace initiative to his sweeping “Century of Türkiye” vision - a strategic plan launched in 2022 to transform Turkey into a top ten global power. He described the end of the PKK conflict as a key step toward achieving this goal, redirecting resources toward public welfare.

“Much better tomorrows await Turkey,” he said, adding that the country is on the cusp of a transformative period where "the doors to a great, strong Türkiye - Century of Türkiye - have been fully opened."

The “Century of Türkiye” vision further aims to elevate Turkey’s global standing through investment-driven economic growth, assertive foreign policy, a liberal new constitution, and improved living standards, while eradicating terrorism and fostering national cohesion.