The call made by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli for terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan during his party's group meeting ignited a new debate in Turkish politics. BAHÇELİ: LET HIM COME AND ANNOUNCE THAT TERRORISM HAS ENDED IN THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLYIn his speech from the podium, Bahçeli stated, "The terrorist leader who said he is ready for all kinds of service when brought to Turkey should come and announce that terrorism has ended. Those who do not understand this call and those who try to distort it have emerged. Let him come and join the DEM ranks in the Grand National Assembly and declare that he has laid down his arms, and shout that terrorism has completely ended and the organization has been dissolved. If he shows this determination, the way for the legal regulation regarding the use of the right to hope should be opened wide." BAYIK: WE DECIDE, NOT APOFollowing Bahçeli's statement, questions began to arise about "Does Abdullah Öcalan have authority over the organization?" The words of PKK leader Cemil Bayık in a recent interview have come back to the agenda. In the mentioned interview, Bayık stated, "We are the ones who carry out the practice. We are responsible for the practice. Apo is not responsible. He cannot carry out any movement or practice from there. He cannot make a decision on these matters either. Only we can decide on the withdrawal of armed forces abroad. Neither HDP nor Apo can make that decision. If such a call is made, we will make that decision."
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