Türkiye has seized a historic opportunity: Parliament Speaker Kurtulmus

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus met with parliamentary journalists for an iftar dinner, emphasizing the importance of a terror-free Türkiye and national unity.

Kurtulmus calls for a terror-free Türkiye

During his speech at the gathering, Kurtulmus highlighted the significance of Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorism, stating, “We believe that no one should poison this process because Türkiye has seized a historic opportunity.”

He stressed that as conflicts fueled by ethnic and sectarian divisions persist in the region, Türkiye must rid itself of terrorism and reinforce national unity.

“While ethnic and sectarian differences have been turned into areas of conflict in our region, it is our shared responsibility to permanently remove the scourge of terrorism from Türkiye and ensure that the brotherhood among us continues until eternity,” he said.

Regional implications of a terror-free Türkiye

Kurtulmus linked Türkiye’s efforts to eradicate terrorism to broader regional stability. “The removal of terrorism from Türkiye’s agenda is not only a milestone for us but also the first step toward eliminating terrorism from the region,” he noted.

The Parliament Speaker also warned against attempts to incite divisions in Türkiye based on religious or sectarian lines, particularly in light of the situation in Syria.

“We advise against using potential illegal activities in Syria as a pretext to stir sectarian disputes within Türkiye. This is a national responsibility. We are not a country that imports instability from others; rather, we are one that shares our stability with our neighbors,” Kurtulmus said.

Türkiye’s role in promoting regional stability

Reflecting on Türkiye’s historical experience with social cohesion, Kurtulmus pointed out that despite external efforts to sow discord, the nation has remained resilient.

“Since these lands became our homeland, Turks, Kurds, Sunnis, Alawites, and people from different ethnic backgrounds have lived together. While attempts have been made to divide us, they have always failed,” he said.

He recalled how Türkiye’s adversaries have utilized terrorist organizations as proxies to hinder national progress. “For the past 40 years, terrorist organizations have been exploited as tools to undermine Türkiye’s unity and hinder our country’s development. This has been part of a broader strategy to restrict Türkiye’s growth.”

Türkiye’s perspective on Syria and regional conflicts

Kurtulmus reiterated Ankara’s stance on Syria, emphasizing three key principles: maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity, ensuring an inclusive governance structure, and eliminating all terrorist organizations operating within the country.

“From the very beginning, we have consistently advised Syria to prevent territorial fragmentation, establish a governance system that represents all segments of society, and eliminate all illegal armed groups by integrating them into a unified Syrian army,” he said.

He expressed concern over recent developments in Syria, warning that certain factions may attempt to exploit the situation to destabilize the region. “It is evident that some groups benefiting from the power vacuum in Syria will seek to hinder progress. This must not be allowed.”