Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and key ally in Türkiye’s ruling coalition, has called on imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to “unilaterally declare the dissolution of his organization.”
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and key ally in Türkiye’s ruling coalition, has called on imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to “unilaterally declare the dissolution of his organization.”
“Let the terrorist leader, who claimed he was ‘ready for any kind of service’ when brought to Türkiye, now step forward and unilaterally declare that terrorism has ended and that his organization will be dissolved,” Bahçeli said during his speech at the MHP Parliamentary group meeting on October 15.
This statement comes in the wake of renewed discussions about a potential peace process in Türkiye.
A new peace process?
On October 1st, during the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Bahçeli shook hands with members of the DEM Party (Formerly HDP) sparking debates about a possible new peace process.
PKK leader Öcalan was captured in Nairobi in 1999 and brought to Türkiye. He reportedly stated on the plane, “If there’s a service needed, I’ll do it,” and “I’ll serve Turkey when I return. If you give me the opportunity, I’ll serve.” These statements were widely reported in the press at the time.
Recently, on October 10, journalist Amberin Zaman published an article on the Al Monitor news site claiming that the Turkish government had facilitated communication between Öcalan in Imralı Prison and the PKK leadership in Iraq’s Qandil mountains, requesting that they lay down their arms.
However, high-level security sources speaking to YetkinReport denied this claim. Mehmet Uçum, Chief Legal Advisor to the Presidency, stated, “The state does not repeat a process from which it has not obtained a solution.”
“Either politics or terrorism”
Speaking of the new discussions Bahçeli said: “We extend our hand for brotherhood, not for a political process. Let no one, under any circumstances, expect the state to negotiate with terrorists – it’s not even to be considered. Let them demonstrate their thirst for brotherhood, not for bloodshed. The state does not negotiate with terrorist organizations; it fights them relentlessly.”
“Those who have been misinterpreting the hand I’ve been extending should understand that I do this for the state, the nation, and the homeland. Hakkari is ours, Edirne is ours, İzmir is ours, Şırnak is ours. Today calls for unity and solidarity. There’s room for everyone in our hearts,” he added.
Bahçeli stressed the importance of choosing between politics and terrorism: “It’s either politics or terrorism, either politics or weapons – there’s no middle ground. Separatist terrorism must be eradicated, and our thousand-year-old brotherhood must be strengthened. It’s in everyone’s interest for the DEM Party to distance itself from any provocative attempts to sabotage the hand I’ve extended. Turks and Kurds are brothers; those who try to divide us are traitors, a burden, a cancer to be eliminated.”
Constitutional debate
Addressing ongoing constitutional debates, Bahçeli warned, “We will have accounts to settle with those who have issues with the first four articles of the Constitution.”
This statement follows controversial remarks by Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, who suggested changes to Article 3 of the Constitution, which states, “The Turkish State, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity.”
Bahçeli responded, “In Turkish state philosophy, the state is the nation, and the nation is the state. Attempting to separate the two is pure separatism and extremely dangerous. The state is indivisible with its country and nation. Trying to separate or conflict these concepts is a great betrayal and shows a profound lack of understanding.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also weighed in on the constitutional debate after a Presidential Cabinet meeting on October 14th.
He stated, “I want to reiterate that neither our party nor the People’s Alliance has any issues with the first four articles of the Constitution.”
Erdoğan expressed hope that all political parties would respond constructively to the call for a new constitution. Addressing the discussions about any peace process he cautioned, “We won’t allow the extended hand of peace to be rejected. We can’t remain indifferent to such actions. Given the volatile situation in our region, with threats edging closer to our borders daily, everyone must act responsibly and with awareness.”
He concluded by emphasizing that the current climate does not imply compromising on national security: “Our resolve to eliminate all threats to Türkiye and Turkish democracy, including separatist terrorism, remains unwavering. We will not allow the repetition of painful episodes from our nation’s past.”
