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Defense Minister Yasar Guler urges that the PKK and all affiliated terrorist groups immediately cease terrorist activities and unconditionally surrender their weapons, particularly those operating in Syria under different names, during a Veterans Day ceremony on Friday.
"PKK and all affiliated groups must immediately end all terrorist activities within the scope of the call made and the dissolution decision taken, and all their extensions operating in different geographies and under different names, especially in Syria, must surrender their weapons immediately and unconditionally," Guler said at the Sept. 19 Veterans Day Ceremony at the Ministry of National Defense's Ataturk Cultural Center.
The minister's remarks come as Türkiye pursues its "terror-free Türkiye" initiative, aimed at ending more than 40 years of terrorism that has threatened the country's peace and security.
Guler emphasized Türkiye's zero-tolerance stance toward terrorist organizations attempting to establish roots in the region.
"We will never allow any terrorist organization, especially PKK/YPG/SDF, to take root in the region or operate under different names," he stated.
The defense minister stressed that all steps taken in this process would neither dishonor the memory of martyrs nor harm the honor, nobility, and efforts of veterans.
"I want to especially state that all steps to be taken in this process will never tarnish the cherished memory of our martyrs, nor will they harm the honor, nobility, and efforts of our veterans," Guler said.
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Guler assured that the government's approach involves no concessions or bargaining in the fight against terrorism.
"Be assured with peace of mind that there is no compromise or bargaining on this path, there has not been, and there will not be," he declared, adding, "No step has been taken that would harm our nation's unity, brotherhood, and security, and none will be taken in the future."
He emphasized that Türkiye is managing the process with comprehensive planning, drawing inspiration from centuries of deep-rooted state wisdom and national historical consciousness.
"We are working to build a future where we no longer lose our children, where blood and tears have ended, where our children grow up only in an environment of peace and brotherhood," Guler said.
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