Türkiye forms four panels to oversee PKK disarmament

ANKARA

A high-level board overseeing the PKK’s disarmament and dissolution process established four subcommittees at its first meeting on Aug. 24.

The National Solidarity and Integration Coordination Board met in Ankara under the chairmanship of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz.

A written statement issued after the meeting said the subcommittees would cover judicial and legal affairs coordination; monitoring and verification; social cohesion and integration; and disarmament and strategic coordination.

The board also discussed its working procedures and coordination among state institutions involved in the government’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative.

The eight-member body includes the justice, foreign, interior and defense ministers, the presidential secretary-general, the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the National Security Council (MGK) secretary-general.

It was established under Law No. 7595 on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, which entered into force on Aug. 18.

Under the law, security agencies must determine that the PKK/KCK and affiliated groups have ended their operational presence and surrendered all weapons and ammunition.

The finding must be confirmed through an MGK decision published in the Official Gazette before provisions allowing eligible investigations, prosecutions and the execution of sentences to be deferred can be applied.