Turkey, Iraq and KRG Finalize Handover Points for PKK Disarmament in Northern Iraq

Officials from Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT), Iraq's National Security Service and the Kurdistan Region Security Council met in Erbil to finalize a mechanism for roughly 4,200 PKK members to lay down arms and vacate 18 camps, positions and caves in northern Iraq — spanning Amedi, Kani Masi, Zakho, Avashin, Said Sadiq, Ranya, Dukan, Koya, Mount Korek and Sidakan — as the next phase of the 'Peace and Democratic Society Process' framework law passed in August. Five handover points are planned around Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, with additional points in Duhok, though the parties had yet to agree who would take physical custody of the surrendered weapons. Positions on Mount Qandil, where the PKK's main command is based, are not part of this first stage. The first phase was expected to begin within days and take about a month, ahead of an October 1 target for confirming the group's disbandment to Turkey's National Security Council.