Türkiye’s Parliament Speaker Affirms Anti-Terror Initiative Is Not a Negotiation with PKK
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Türkiye’s ongoing initiative for a “terror-free Türkiye” is a national effort aimed at shaping a future beyond terrorism, not a negotiation process with the PKK terrorist group, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus clarified on Thursday.
Speaking at an official gathering held at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), Kurtulmus emphasized that the process now underway is focused on defining next steps after the PKK’s recent declaration of dissolution, and it remains firmly under the constitutional authority of Parliament.
“Let me state clearly: this is not a negotiation,” said Speaker Kurtulmus. “This process is about evaluating the new reality after the terrorist organisation decided to disband and identifying steps that can be taken under Parliament’s roof to move forward — always under the authority and will of the General Assembly.”
Addressing veterans and families of fallen soldiers, Kurtulmus acknowledged public sensitivity surrounding the issue, reaffirming that the government is not in dialogue with the PKK. “On the contrary, we are reassessing the road ahead to secure a Türkiye free from terrorism,” he stated.
His remarks follow President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s July 12 announcement of a “new chapter” in the country’s history, marking the formal end of the PKK’s 47-year armed campaign. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, held a congress in May during which it declared its dissolution. The development came in the wake of a February statement from the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, calling for a definitive end to violence.
As part of this new era, the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Committee—a newly formed body within Parliament—held its inaugural session on Tuesday. The committee is tasked with assessing the legal, political, and social dimensions of post-terror reconstruction and national healing.
Underscoring the initiative’s broader regional impact, Kurtulmus remarked, “A terror-free Türkiye means a terror-free region. We will build this future together.”
He also reflected on the immense toll terrorism has exacted on the country over the last half-century.
“Nearly half of the Republic’s 100-year history has been marked by terror, pain, and sacrifice,” he said. “Türkiye has lost an estimated $3 trillion and tens of thousands of lives. We owe it to our martyrs and our future generations to rebuild our unity and centuries-old bonds of brotherhood.”
The initiative, while still in its early stages, is being widely watched both domestically and internationally as Türkiye positions itself for a new chapter of peace, development, and national reconciliation following decades of conflict.
