Al-Sudani, Erdogan discuss PKK disarmament in phone call

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani spoke by phone Saturday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, including the recent disarmament step by the PKK, according to a statement from Al-Sudani’s media office.

Al-Sudani congratulated Erdogan on the peace agreement between Turkey and the PKK, saying the development “will have a positive impact on the region, promote stability, and drive development efforts for the benefit of its peoples.”

On Friday, 30 PKK members, including four commanders, destroyed their weapons during a disarmament ceremony in a mountain cave near Sulaymaniyah. The event marked the group’s first public step toward ending its armed campaign.

The ceremony was attended by PKK leaders, Kurdish officials, lawmakers from Turkey’s Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, and representatives from Iraq’s federal and regional interior ministries. Turkish intelligence officials were also reportedly present, as the group transitions to political engagement following its May declaration to dismantle its military structures.

Full statement from Al-Sudani’s office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani held phone talks today, Saturday, with President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani congratulated President Erdoğan on the signing of the peace agreement between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), affirming that the agreement will have a positive impact on the region, promote stability, and drive development efforts for the benefit of its peoples.

The discussions also addressed regional developments and the need to end the ongoing aggression against Gaza and Lebanon, ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians, avoid further escalation, and resolve issues through dialogue, international law, and treaty frameworks.