Speaker of the Turkish Parliament: We Have Crossed a Historic Threshold in the Fight Against Terrorism
Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, referring to the completion of the work by the National Unity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission, announced that the country has crossed a “vital threshold” on the path to achieving the goal of a “Terrorism-Free Turkey.” He emphasized that this achievement is not the end of the road but rather the beginning of a new era of intense work and effort.
Kurtulmuş, who met with media editors at an iftar program in Istanbul last night and answered their questions, began by congratulating them on the month of Ramadan. He touched upon significant regional developments, including the overthrow of the Baath regime in Syria, deeming it a positive step for Turkey’s security. He listed Ankara’s priorities regarding Syria as forming an inclusive government, integrating armed groups into the new structure, and preserving the country’s territorial integrity.
Drawing a distinction between Turkey’s policies and those of powers with “imperialist agendas,” Kurtulmuş stressed that Ankara seeks stability, integrity, and unity in the region, while others seek to divide it.
Details of the Commission Report and the “Terrorism-Free Turkey” Process
Referring to the process known as “Terrorism-Free Turkey,” which gained momentum since August 2024, Kurtulmuş stated that Abdullah Öcalan’s call for disarmament and dissolution, followed by the announcement of self-dissolution by a faction of the PKK, paved the way for the formation of a special commission in parliament. The commission finalized its report on Wednesday after 21 meetings and intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
Recalling past unsuccessful efforts to resolve the issue, which he said resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and damages amounting to $2 trillion, Kurtulmuş described the formation of this commission with the participation of all parties as an unprecedented and valuable step for Turkish democracy. He called the prepared report a “cornerstone” and a framework for future actions, emphasizing the need to take subsequent steps with goodwill, patience, and determination.
Thanking the parties for their constructive participation, Kurtulmuş described the country’s political atmosphere as very tense but hailed the gathering of different parties and the achievement of common ground as a great success. According to him, the final report is advisory in nature and includes suggestions for improving Turkey’s democratic standards.
International Stances: Gaza and Potential US-Iran Tension
In another part of his speech, the Turkish Parliament Speaker referred to the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza and the West Bank, calling them inhumane. He reiterated Ankara’s principled stance on Palestine, stating that lasting peace in the region cannot be achieved without a two-state solution and the guarantee of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Kurtulmuş warned against the possibility of a US attack on Iran, describing it as “catastrophic” for the region. Stating that such an action would lead to widespread instability and a crisis with no end in sight, he added that Turkey has conveyed this concern to its American counterparts and will use every effort to prevent this from happening. He cited the influence of the Zionist lobby as an influential factor in this context.
New Constitution and the Future of the Process
Responding to a question about a new constitution, Kurtulmuş noted that there is an unspoken consensus among Turkish politicians regarding the inadequacy of the current constitution (the legacy of the September 12th coup). He described drafting a new, indigenous, and national constitution as complementary to the path towards a Turkey free of terrorism, emphasizing that it must be more liberal, democratic, and inclusive.
Referring to the technical details of the commission’s work, including how dissenting opinions were managed and the visit to İmralı, he stated that the vast majority of society is satisfied with this process and that the dark forces hoping for its failure will not succeed. Kurtulmuş stressed that the legal regulations concerning this process must be put on the agenda as soon as possible, immediately after Ramadan.
In conclusion, Kurtulmuş dismissed concerns about the report’s emphasis on ethnic identities as unfounded, emphasizing that the report repeatedly affirms the unitary and integrated structure of Turkey and the secular state. He stated that the aim of the report is the solidarity and unity of all ethnic groups living in this geography against divisive plots.
