New phase in Turkey's 'Terror-Free' process: Follow-up board convenes

Turkey has entered a new phase of its "Terror-Free Turkey" initiative following the legalization of a framework law. The newly established Follow-up and Evaluation Board, operating under the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, convened its first meeting today. The board is chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and includes the ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Interior, and National Defense, along with the Presidential Secretary General, Head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), and Secretary General of the National Security Council (MGK).

A key agenda item for the initial meeting is the formation of sub-committees tasked with overseeing different stages of the process. One anticipated sub-committee is the Disarmament and Politicization Sub-Committee, which is expected to focus on arms surrender and on-field verification mechanisms. There is speculation that Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, might be assigned a role in this sub-committee as a "pledging" member, a possibility previously mentioned by Pervin Buldan, a member of the DEM Party's İmralı delegation.

Details regarding the operational aspects of the sub-committees, such as their meeting schedules and locations, remain unclear. The Follow-up Board itself is expected to include representatives from the relevant ministries and institutions, such as a judge or prosecutor from the Ministry of Justice, an ambassador-level diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a governor-level representative from the Ministry of Interior, a general or colonel from the Ministry of National Defense, a senior executive from the Presidential Secretariat, a department head from MİT, and a senior rapporteur from the MGK Secretariat.

A separate structure is also being established for judicial processes. This body, involving Justice Ministry officials, judges, and prosecutors, will classify the files of surrendered militants according to their legal status. Decisions on the postponement of sentences will be made by execution judges, not this sub-committee. For the law's provisions to take effect, security institutions must confirm the cessation of the PKK/KCK's active presence and the surrender of weapons and ammunition under its control. This confirmation must be endorsed by the National Security Council and published in the Official Gazette, after which applications can be made for six months.

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The name of the committee will be 'Disarmament and Politicization,' and Öcalan will take a place in this committee and organize the developments.