Jabar Yawar, former Secretary General of the Peshmerga Ministry, described the PKK’s disarmament process as a constructive development and attributed the choice of Sulaymaniyah for the ceremony to the absence of Turkish military bases there, adding, “The second reason is that the PKK's main position is in Qandil, which is in Sulaymaniyah province.”

He told Channel8, “The first phase of the PKK's disarmament process is to show goodwill, and the mechanism has not been fully announced, but many representatives of the Kurdistan Region’s political parties may participate, and the local and international media will cover it.”

Yawar said the security forces are responsible for securing the ceremony and noted that PKK guerrillas will return to Qandil after laying down their weapons in Sulaymaniyah.

He believes the Turkish government has not taken any action on the process and that bombings in the Kurdistan Region continue.

Yawar described the PKK’s disarmament process as a positive step, saying it will enhance security and stability and enable villagers to return to their areas.

“The positivity of the process is not only in the interest of the Kurdistan Region, but also in the interest of Iraq, because in the past, Turkey has pressured Baghdad about the presence of the PKK and asked for intelligence information,” he added.

According to Yawar, issues related to the release of water from the Tigris and Euphrates were linked to the PKK presence and affected trade, adding that after the PKK disarmament, “there is no excuse for Turkey to stay in Iraqi territory,” describing this as a benefit of the process for Baghdad.

He stressed that Turkey’s military operations in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq violate international law and the border agreement between Iraq and Turkey.

“Baghdad has repeatedly reiterated that it has no agreement with Turkey to allow the presence of its forces, the construction of bases, and the use of Iraqi airspace, but Turkey, based on decisions of its parliament renewed annually, opens bases and headquarters and carries out military operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DEM Party announced that a delegation will visit the Kurdistan Region for the first PKK disarmament ceremony, describing it as part of an “important and historic” peace process that marks a new era. The party said it has invited 15 to 20 journalists and representatives of political parties and civil society to attend the event.

The first disarmament ceremony for PKK members is scheduled to take place between July 10 and 12 in Sulaymaniyah.