Turkey's parliament has approved a key law establishing a legal framework for the disarmament and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as part of the government's "Turkey Without Terror" initiative.
The 12-article Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration passed by 468 votes to 88, with 562 lawmakers voting and six abstaining. The legislation had previously been debated extensively and approved by Parliament's Justice Committee.
The vote marks the most significant legislative step so far in an effort to end the decades-long armed conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK and provide a legal framework for the organization's disarmament and eventual dissolution.
Burhanettin Duran, communications director for the Turkish presidency, described the adoption of the law as an important expression of political support for the "Turkey Without Terror" initiative. He said it would strengthen national unity and solidarity while contributing to efforts to eliminate terrorism and create a more secure future.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş called the vote a "historic achievement" and stressed the broad political support behind the measure.
