PKK will officially lay down its arms

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The 140-person delegation, consisting of politicians, intellectuals, human rights defenders and journalists, who will attend the ceremony to be held in Sulaymaniyah , set out yesterday.

Following a call from Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK will hold a " laying down of arms " ceremony today in Sulaymaniyah, part of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government. A group of 140 politicians, intellectuals, human rights defenders, and journalists gathered in Diyarbakır to attend the ceremony and are now heading to Erbil.

PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned on İmralı Island since 1999, said in a video message broadcast for the first time in 26 years, "I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons. And I call on you to implement this principle." The KCK Executive Council Co-Presidency announced that it would heed Öcalan's call and warned, "It should be known that the process will not progress unilaterally or with steps taken solely by us."

A source speaking to Rudaw said, "All preparations for the ceremony have been completed. Relevant political parties and journalists have been invited." The KCK officially invited the two main political forces in the Kurdistan Region, the KDP and PUK, to the ceremony.

The statement, which stated that the ceremony will take place between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. today, said, "The location of the ceremony will not be disclosed to the public." The statement also included the following: "There is no prior registration required to attend the ceremony. However, attendees are required to bring their special press cards or identification documents and present themselves."