26.09.2025 16:27
The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, responded to the question, "Will terrorist leader Öcalan be heard in the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission?" He stated that the issue has not come up on the commission's agenda, saying, "If it comes to the agenda, the commission will decide on it with a qualified majority." On the other hand, the DEM Party had also stated, "Hearing Öcalan is of decisive importance for successfully concluding the process."
The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, met with parliamentary reporters at the 3rd Legislative Year Evaluation Meeting before the opening of the 4th Legislative Year of the 28th Term.
Kurtulmuş stated that in strong democracies, parliaments should address not only internal issues but also external matters, saying, "Parliaments act with an approach that not only deals with internal issues but also produces solutions to the problems faced by the world and presents perspectives in this context. A commission has been established under the roof of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to end terrorism, which has been one of Turkey's most significant problems for 50 years, and since the day the commission started its work, it has made extraordinary progress in its efforts. We hope that Turkey will soon leave behind the years lost due to terrorism and the heavy economic and humanitarian costs, opening a new page to continue on its path in peace, tranquility, and brotherhood. As reflected in the name of the commission, this historic commission, where views on national solidarity, brotherhood, and democracy are discussed, and proposals are ultimately presented to the TBMM, performs an extraordinarily significant and historic function. The work carried out with great political participation since the beginning will be successfully concluded in the shortest time possible," he said.
"THE TBMM HAS NEVER REMAINED SILENT" Noting that the TBMM has not been indifferent to global issues, Kurtulmuş stated, "The TBMM has never remained silent in the face of the attitudes of Israel in our region, its efforts to destabilize the region, its aggressive behaviors that disregard the sovereignty of many countries, and the genocide it has committed in the Gaza Strip for nearly two years. In the 3rd Legislative Year of the 28th Term, the Assembly has repeatedly expressed its views either as a Presidential Motion or as a joint declaration of the parties, setting an example for world parliaments within the international community. Although the decision taken at the last extraordinary meeting of the Assembly was accepted as a Presidential Motion with the signatures of 442 members of parliament, the six political parties represented in the Assembly, as well as those without a group, signed the same text, clearly demonstrating that they are defenders of the national will. Therefore, there is a TBMM that takes the lead, makes decisions, and addresses all developments both inside and outside on behalf of the nation. Thank God, the TBMM can express its voice in the international arena in the strongest way," he said.
"WE HAVE PUT FORWARD A INTENSIVE WORK" Kurtulmuş emphasized that the TBMM is conducting an intensive parliamentary diplomacy process and stated that Turkey is leading the international efforts regarding the Palestinian issue. Evaluating the work done in the TBMM, Kurtulmuş said, "Undoubtedly, one of the primary duties of the TBMM is legislative activities. In this term, 798 draft laws were submitted to the Assembly by members of parliament. Two draft laws were submitted by the President. In this legislative year, 32 laws have been accepted, and 46 TBMM decisions have been made. I would like to express that the Assembly has indeed put forward a very intensive work during this period. The General Assembly worked for 901 hours and 44 minutes and held meetings where approximately 37,000 pages of minutes were recorded. In addition to the TBMM General Assembly, meetings lasting over 995 hours have been held in specialized and research commissions. Undoubtedly, one of our commissions operating in the Assembly is the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission, which has a historical significance. This commission was established with a very high political representation capacity, including almost all parties represented in the Assembly except one, after a long preparation period, and held its first meeting on August 5. It is a commission consisting of 51 members from six parties represented in the Assembly with five political party groups. So far, 12 meetings have been held, and discussions lasting over 54 hours have taken place. During this process, 91 institutions, organizations, and individuals participating here have presented their views and suggestions to our commission," he evaluated. Kurtulmuş also added that 335,000 citizens visited the TBMM during the 3rd legislative year.
"THE COMMISSION WILL MAKE A DECISION" Responding to journalists' questions, Kurtulmuş, regarding whether the leader of the separatist terrorist organization would be listened to in the commission, said, "Let me say this as a principle; everything is happening openly in front of the public within the framework of the unanimous decision we made from the very beginning. None of our meetings have been secret except for one meeting. That was a meeting where the National Intelligence Organization and relevant ministries were listened to. Therefore, it is clear how the commission will make a decision on any issue. This topic has not yet come to the agenda of the commission. If it comes to the agenda of the commission, this decision can be made with a qualified majority. The commission will decide on this," he stated.
"WE MUST ACT QUICKLY" Kurtulmuş emphasized that proposals have come from political parties for the commission to listen to groups with young and female representatives, and he mentioned that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice could also be invited to the meeting. Kurtulmuş stated, "The sensitive process continues. We must act quickly in this process. The conditions in the region and the rapidly changeable structure of international balances indicate that Turkey needs to quickly conclude the peace and brotherhood process. Therefore, on one hand, we are working to increase social consent by listening to all segments, but at the same time, we must act quickly. While doing this, I have been expressing from the beginning that we need to stand firm; this is such a process that both ends must be balanced on the scale. On one hand, you will consider the rights and honors of the Kurds, and on the other hand, you will take into account the sensitivities and pride of the Turks, who constitute the vast majority of Turkey. Therefore, this balance has been maintained throughout the process," he said.
Kurtulmuş also stated that the process of the PKK terrorist organization's disarmament should continue and that the process would accelerate as it demonstrates its dissolution along with all its extensions.
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"IT WAS A HISTORIC MEETING" Kurtulmuş stated regarding President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to the USA, "It was an extraordinarily important visit, a historic development. I can say that not only the meeting of our President with Trump but also the entire New York activities; the General Assembly speech, the speech at the Special Session on Gaza, the meeting he had with Muslim country leaders together with Trump, and the meeting with Trump, have resulted in quite positive outcomes from our perspective. It was indeed an important and historic meeting. This meeting will open new doors for Turkey in terms of Turkish-American relations as well as the balances and equations in the region, and it will pave the way for new steps to be taken. I believe that the positive atmosphere reflected from this meeting, that is, the sincere meeting between the President of the USA and the leader of a Muslim country, is also significant in terms of global balances. I hope the results will be good; it is clear that a new era is beginning. We see that it is a meeting that increases Turkey's regional influence. I consider it important that the discussions held in the meeting are closely followed and that the results are achieved. In particular, referring to the leadership shown by our President regarding Syria policies, and even with a somewhat exaggerated statement, his remark that 'You took Syria,' has also expressed Turkey's significant contributions regarding Syria and especially civilians. I hope that all problematic areas in the region, especially Syria, will lead to developments in our favor," he said.
DEM PARTY HAD CALLED FOR "ÖCALAN TO BE HEARD" DEM Party recently stated that the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission could play a historic role in peace and resolution, emphasizing that the hearing of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan is a necessity for a permanent solution. The statement said, "The hearing of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan by the commission should be considered a necessity for the permanent solution of the problem. The commission's hearing of Mr. Öcalan is of decisive importance for successfully concluding the current process," it was stated.
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