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Türkiye Says in Talks with Baghdad, Erbil on PKK Weapons Handover

Türkiye Says in Talks with Baghdad, Erbil on PKK Weapons Handover

Asharq Al-Awsat17-05-2025

Türkiye is in talks with authorities in Baghdad and in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil on how Kurdish militants of the PKK will hand over their weapons, President Tayyip Erdogan said following the group's decision to disband.
"Talks are being held with our neighbouring countries on how the weapons of terrorists outside our borders will be handed over," Erdogan said, according to a transcript of remarks he made to journalists on his return flight from Albania overnight.
"There are plans regarding how the Baghdad and Erbil administrations will take part in this process," he added.
The PKK , which has been locked in bloody conflict with Türkiye for more than four decades, has decided to disband and end its armed struggle, group members and Turkish leaders said earlier this week on Monday.

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