A disarmament process for the terrorist organization PKK was initiated the previous day in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. In a ceremony attended by 30 PKK terrorists, including the organization’s leader Bese Hozat, weapons were emblematically surrendered and incinerated in a barrel. Following these developments, all attention shifted to AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Initially, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, during a 9 Temmuz broadcast on NTV, had built anticipation by stating, “Our President will deliver a historic speech on Saturday morning. I invite all our citizens to listen to that announcement,” without providing further details. However, on the evening of 10 Temmuz, as a guest on a tv100 live broadcast, Çelik tempered expectations with the message, “There is no surprise.” Pointing to the day of the speech, Çelik had clarified, “Should this disarmament process materialize, our President will make his first speech on Saturday morning regarding the point we have reached and what comes next. It will be a comprehensive and in-depth speech. A müjde (good news) is always expected. In fact, it is a historic speech. He will evaluate all these developments that have occurred.”
President and AKP Chairman Tayyip Erdoğan, whose address was promoted by the AKP as a “historic speech,” delivered significant messages regarding the new resolution process, which they have termed ‘Terror-free Turkey,’ one day after the PKK’s disarmament ceremony. Erdoğan revealed that a legal framework for the process would be established, explaining, “We will form a commission in the TBMM and begin discussing the legal necessities of the process under the roof of the Parliament. The AK Parti, MHP, and DEM, at least as a trio, have decided to walk this path together.” Furthermore, Erdoğan stated, “We provide every possible convenience to those who take a step towards us. We open the door wide for anyone seeking a way out. The waters do not flow backward. If they do, we will do what is necessary. No one should be anxious.”
AKP’s President Erdoğan commenced his speech at approximately 10:20 and concluded around 11:15. The prominent points from President Erdoğan’s statements are as follows:
* He began by offering his most heartfelt greetings to his “dear nation,” esteemed members of the MKYK and other central boards, and his valued deputies and companions in his cause. He expressed great happiness to be together at the 32nd of the AK Parti’s Consultation and Evaluation Meetings and sent his regards to all fellow travelers in his cause who have passionately worked for the growth of the AK Parti. “I respectfully salute all my road and cause companions who serve selflessly at every level, seeing the Türkiye Yüzyılı as a blessed dawn, and I pray that God makes our affection everlasting,” he said.
* The President also took a moment to commemorate his advisor, Yiğit Bulut. “We have sent my cause and road companion, and also my advisor, my brother Yiğit Bulut, to Hakk (God). Today, God willing, he will be buried in Karacaahmet. We will bid him farewell with the afternoon prayer at Marmara University’s Faculty of Theology. Due to this meeting, we cannot attend the ceremony. But our organization is there. They will participate in the ceremony. He went through a severe illness. When I visited him in the hospital due to that illness, he was truly in a very, very grave condition. But we always say this; there is a fate above fate. And I saw that he was cautious, in a state of submission. May my Lord transform his shortcomings into good deeds, and may his place be paradise, inşallah. Let us recite a Fatiha together and fulfill our duty.”
* Regarding the recent loss of soldiers, he said, “We lost 12 sons of the homeland, 12 heroes to martyrdom. Our hearts were seared. I wish God’s mercy upon our Mehmetçiks who were martyred by being exposed to methane gas. May Mevla envelop them with His mercy. May their place be paradise, inşallah.”
* The address also marked a somber anniversary. “Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenitsa genocide, one of the most shameful incidents in recent human history. As Turkey, we continue to stand by Bosnia and Herzegovina and our Bosniak brothers to prevent similar pains from being experienced again. Just like our Bosniak brothers, we also send our prayers to the people of Gaza, who have been subjected to genocide for 22 months before the eyes of the civilized world, and we express that we will be by their side in their honorable struggle.”
* Speaking on the AKP consultation meetings, he noted, “In our sessions today and tomorrow, there will be consultations on various topics. The distinguishing feature of our meetings is that they facilitate collective wisdom. We have always strived for the better, to serve the nation in the best possible way. We have seen constructive criticism as a lantern that illuminates our path. Consultation increases abundance, strengthens foresight, broadens horizons, and reinforces solidarity. I want you to tell us what comes from your hearts with open-mindedness.”
* He delivered a powerful message about the nation’s martyrs, vowing, “We have not forgotten our martyrs, and we will not forget. Our homeland will exist eternally, and our crescent-starred flag will forever wave freely in our skies. Our martyrs, who watered our homeland with their blood and colored our crescent-starred flag with their crimson blood, will always be the crown on our heads.”
* Erdoğan provided historical context, recalling that the terrorist organization conducted its first attack 47 years ago in the Eruh district of Siirt. “The separatist organization targeted civilians. I wish God’s mercy upon our martyrs and citizens who lost their lives in terrorist incidents. We have not forgotten them, and we will not forget them. Our crescent-starred flag will wave freely in the skies. Our martyrs will be the crown on my head. Unfortunately, after the first attack in 1984, terrorism escalated day by day. Many governments came, each saying they would eradicate terrorism. Nobody could finish it. Of course, wrong practices also had a share in this; the White Toros incidents, the Diyarbakır Prison, and mothers unable to speak Kurdish were among these wrong practices. These fueled terrorism. The price of mistakes was paid heavily. Since we came to power on 3 Kasım 2002, we have been fighting this issue. We took measures to prevent the terrorist organization from trapping our Kurdish brothers. We took steps of a historic nature. Along with all this, we developed our defense industry.”
* “Turkey became destabilized by these terror attacks. It caused great damage to our country’s peace, unity, and brotherhood. We produced our own counter-terrorism weapons. After the treacherous coup attempt of 15 Temmuz, we cleansed FETÖ from all our institutions. We removed the obstacles in the fight against terrorism. With Mr. Bahçeli’s call, we took a series of steps for a Terror-free Turkey. We conducted a very sensitive process to evaluate the window of opportunity. Yesterday, the organization announced it had implemented its decision and laid down its arms with a ceremony. As of yesterday, the 47-year scourge of terrorism has entered a process of termination. As of yesterday, Turkey has begun to turn a page filled with tears. Today, do not forget, is a new day; a new page has been opened in history. Today, the doors of the Türkiye Yüzyılı have been opened wide.”
* Erdoğan stressed that the process is not a negotiation. “The Republic of Turkey has tried every way to end terrorism. However, success was not achieved in any of them. The Terror-free Turkey project we have been pursuing recently is not a give-and-take process. We are very careful. We are closely following any initiative that will stop the blood, dry the tears of mothers, alleviate suffering, and strengthen brotherhood. Let everyone be sure of this, we will not let the honor of the Republic of Turkey be trampled, we will never let its head be bowed. We are monitoring our Terror-free Turkey project with this understanding. We have not been, nor will we be, involved in any business that is not for the good of Turkey. Whatever we do, we do it for Turkey; whatever we do, we do it for our nation; whatever we do, we do it for our independence, for our future.”
* In response to critics, Erdoğan staunchly defended his allies. “Questioning the nationalism, patriotism, and love for Turkey of our alliance partner, MHP Chairman Mr. Bahçeli, and his cadres is not anyone’s place. No one can question my own, the AK cadres’, nationalism, patriotism, and love for Turkey. This is neither anyone’s place nor their right.”
* He declared a victory for the nation, stating, “We will not be involved in, nor will we ever allow, any initiative that targets our unity, our integrity, our homeland, our nation, and our peace. Turkey has won, my nation has won. Every one of our 86 million citizens—Turk, Kurd, Arab—has won. The Republic of Turkey is standing tall; in fact, today it is much more powerful, more majestic, and most importantly, much more hopeful for its future than yesterday.”
* Reassuring the public, the President said, “We know very well what we are doing. Let no one be afraid, and let no one have any question marks in their mind. Whatever we do, we do it for Turkey. We do it for our future.”
* He argued that an entire industry was built around the conflict. “From the very beginning, terrorism created a sector and an ecosystem. Even those who appeared to be anti-terror profited from it. They attempted to derive rent for their own dirty ambitions from terrorist attacks. Their rent gates are closing. Their interests are being harmed. Because they are losing the toy in their hands. As my nation sees this, let them not forget that we will become much stronger. They are trying to break the budding hopes of the nation by spreading fear. Terrorism will end, you will see, they will all be unemployed. Today, as terrorism ends, the exploitation of terrorism is also ending.”
* Drawing on historical themes, Erdoğan said, “We are not a nation that appeared on the stage of history yesterday. We are on a long march. Open the pages of history and look. No one could stand before our swords, our takbirs. If Turk-Kurd-Arab are together, in unison, then the Turk exists, the Kurd exists, the Arab exists. When they are distant, there is defeat. The Crusaders attacked Islamic lands because Turks, Kurds, and Arabs were separated from each other. Whenever we were divided, we were defeated. No one’s strength is enough to divide Turkey, but they made us lose time. They tried to sow discord between the Turk and the Kurd. Who won in 41 years? History is repeating itself. The Turk and the Kurd are embracing in affection. Today, the spirit of Malazgirt, the Jerusalem alliance, is being reshaped. Today, the dawn of a great and powerful Turkey is breaking. The Republic of Turkey is the common home of us all.”
* He then outlined the next steps. “Now we will sit and talk… Not with weapons. Face to face, heart to heart. We will establish a commission in the TBMM and begin to discuss the legal needs of the process under the roof of the Parliament. Now, AK Parti, MHP, DEM, we, at least as a trio, have decided to walk this path together.”
* Erdoğan also addressed the regional dimension. “Not only is it the issue of our Kurdish citizens, but the issue of my Kurdish brothers in Iraq and Syria is also our issue. We are discussing this process with them, and they are also very happy. We will now devote our energy to our primary work. We will mobilize our resources not for the fight against terrorism, but for development. Turkey will grow with brotherhood. Turkey will walk in stability and confidence. I repeat this with emphasis; we provide every convenience to those who take one step. We open the door wide for anyone looking for a way out. The waters do not flow backward. If they do, we will do what is necessary. Let no one be uneasy. The Turk is much safer, much stronger. The Kurd-Arab is much safer, much stronger. Our mothers will not suffer the pain of losing a child.”
* “Our losses will undoubtedly not return, but with God’s permission, our young people will no longer be taken from us in the prime of their lives,” he stated. “We will meticulously follow the arms handover through the established mechanism. Mothers of martyrs, fathers of martyrs, I kiss your hands. Our martyrs and veterans carried Turkey to this point. We will never desecrate their memory. I offer my gratitude to my dear nation once again. I extend my heartfelt thanks once more today to those who support the process. I also convey my thanks to the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government from here. I wish our meeting to be auspicious. Stay healthy.”
* The recent developments were set in motion by a call from MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, followed by a response from terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan. This led to the terrorist organization PKK, which had decided to dissolve itself, holding a symbolic disarmament ceremony in Sulaymaniyah. The ceremony for the handover of weapons began at 11:25 and concluded at 11:45. Present at the event were KCK Executive Council Co-chair Bese Hozat, Nedim Seven, Tekoşin Ozan, and Tekin Muş. A total of 30 PKK terrorists, including 15 women and 15 men, participated in the ceremony.