Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Kurtulmuş: We no longer have the luxury of wasting even a single child of this country on terrorism.

Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, wished the new academic year to be beneficial in his speech at the Gaziantep University 2026-2027 Academic Year Opening Ceremony held at Mavera Congress and Art Center.

Stating that they visited many universities in Türkiye, Kurtulmuş said: "We have left the first century of our Republic's history behind. We have achieved many successes in this first century, faced many difficulties, and survived many times. But we can easily say that the most important issue of the first century of the Republic is that, unfortunately, this beloved nation and this great nation have been occupied with the scourge of terrorism. The issue of terrorism, which has taken us nearly 50 years, has been a complete shackle on Türkiye's feet and unfortunately "In Türkiye, it has caused tens of thousands of people to die, thousands of our children to be martyred, and to put it mildly, a cost of over 2 trillion dollars."

Kurtulmuş stated that Türkiye brought together the mind of the state and the mind of the nation to get rid of the terrorism issue. Stating that Türkiye has taken important steps to get rid of terrorism, Kurtulmuş continued as follows: "I would like to ask the following question: Why did Turkey take a step on this issue now, after 50 years of effort? Why did it choose such a path and started to fight determinedly to get rid of terrorism? Again, we all know that in the history of our Republic, especially in the periods of our multi-party political life, many political leaders made great efforts to leave this issue behind. The late Özal, the late Erbakan, even the late Ecevit." "If we count, we can easily say that many people made efforts to solve this problem, but they could not succeed... Because the internal and external groups of the period did not allow this issue to end."

Stating that Türkiye has made important efforts to complete the process, Kurtulmuş said that many parties contributed to the process. Stating that Türkiye will now deal with other issues, Kurtulmuş continued his speech as follows: "Later it became clear how FETO members, especially FETO members, and members of the police, intelligence and other elements undermined that process. Now, thank God, different opportunities have appeared before us, and here, above all, the state mind and the nation's conscience have come together and a determined stance has been taken to solve this problem. This will put forward under the leadership of our President has become an extremely serious state policy." "We have come to this point in the process, step by step. Undoubtedly, the effective and encompassing leadership of our President in this process, as well as the determined stance of the Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, and his guiding advice at the points where it was blocked, and the positive contributions of the leaders and managers of all other political parties to the problem, have helped us reach this point."

Expressing that a strong social climate has been created to solve the terrorism problem, Kurtulmuş said that segments of the society with different political views have shown the will to make efforts to end the issue.

Stating that state reason and social conscience may not always come together, Kurtulmuş said: "From the beginning of the process until today, we all see that this climate has gradually increased and become more positive. This is probably one of the most important reasons. Another important reason is the fact that the developments around us and in the world no longer allow Türkiye to be a country struggling with its own internal issues. Almost all of the world's great powers are struggling with each other in the Balkans, Caucasus, Black Sea, Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regions. In an environment where the armies of the world are physically coming to that region, Türkiye has no choice but to keep both feet firmly on the ground in this region. Therefore, Turkey has had to fortify its inner castle, especially due to the developments in this region and, as just stated, Israel's efforts to destabilize the entire region using Gaza as an excuse for 3 years and its attitude that threatens all the countries in its region. We no longer have the luxury of wasting even a penny of Türkiye's money on terrorism. "We don't have the luxury to spend on struggle."

Kurtulmuş stated that everyone in Türkiye should act as a unit on the issue of a Terror-Free Türkiye. Stating that the terror-free region will be established with the terrorism-free Turkey process and that the people of the region will work in unity, solidarity and brotherhood, Kurtulmuş said: "One of the important elements behind the success of this process was an extraordinarily successful process management. Steps were taken on two important issues, which will be the source of pride for Turkish democracy. One of these was the National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission, which was established with the participation of all parties in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. There are 50 members in this commission. Our friend took part. All political parties, believe me, you watched it, 21 meetings were held. In those meetings, which lasted for hours, even members of parties from A to Z expressed their opinions on this issue and contributed. Non-governmental organizations from almost all social segments and regions of Türkiye came together and presented their opinions and proposals on this issue. In the end, the report was accepted with the votes of 47 of 50 deputies. "This is almost a first in terms of being an example of deliberative democracy in Türkiye. This is the only example in Türkiye where different ideas and opinions can come together around the same issue and get results."

Kurtulmuş thanked those who served and supported the National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission regarding the terrorism-free Türkiye process and stated that they expressed their gratitude on behalf of the Turkish nation.

Kurtulmuş said: "The second important step in this process is the law passed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on August 10 to fulfill the requirements of the process. This law was prepared extremely meticulously and was accepted by the votes of 467 deputies in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, deputies from every party except one. This is a record in the history of our Republic. Such a great alliance has never been achieved. This shows: At the end of a successful process management with the positive and truly well-intentioned contributions of everyone in the process." "The report was prepared, it was put forward as a road map, and the law required by the report was passed, paving the way for the process. I say this, the report was the opening of the door. The law is the door that has been opened wide. This door is the door of peace, brotherhood, unity, solidarity and development together with the people of all countries, and I hope we will walk on this path until the end."

Emphasizing that everyone should be careful against provocations and take preventive measures, Kurtulmuş said: "Another important thing that we should pay attention to in this process is the language and style we use. People actually express themselves and reveal their own colors with the language they use. In the coming period, we would never want each of our citizens, each of our brothers, to use a separatist language, a separatist attitude, or to speak in a discriminatory language that marginalizes others. Knowing that we have no other way than to increase the common values of unity, solidarity and brotherhood, we want to use our language and style." We have to improve his attitude and style."

Stating that they will work together to complete the process, Kurtulmuş thanked those who contributed.

Kurtulmuş continued as follows: "Undoubtedly, the success of the coming period depends on the sound and holistic steps we will take on three basic issues. One of these is that weapons must be left behind completely. No terrorist organization will be given the opportunity or opportunity to engage in an armed struggle in Türkiye, and this will be eliminated. That is why we say that the first issue is the silence of the weapons completely and the removal of the armed struggle part from the history of Turkey. Our second issue is that with the silence of the weapons, or more accurately, with the burning of the weapons, the law in Türkiye will change." "Believe me, there is no problem that the Turkish politics, which has its weapons on fire and can express itself well within the framework of democracy and the rule of law, cannot solve. The third issue is the strengthening of the steps to be taken in terms of economy and development in the region in parallel with the development of the democratic and legal order and the increase of peace and tranquility in the region."

Stating that together we will come to an environment where the direct results of the goal of a terror-free Turkey and a terror-free region are seen by our citizens, and where wealth and prosperity increase not only in Türkiye but in the entire region, Kurtulmuş said that the work is important.

Stating that we have entered an important period, Kurtulmuş continued his speech as follows: "In this context, another important economic issue that we worked on years ago and which was talked about before the civil war broke out in Syria, unfortunately, has practically disappeared from the agenda after the civil war in Syria. In other words, a goal that would develop both Syria, Türkiye, Iraq and the countries in the region was to create cross-border synergy corridors. Now, hopefully, we are entering a period where significant progress can be made here as well. What do I mean? For God's sake, one of you." "What differences can you explain by saying to me, 'Gaziantep has these differences from Aleppo and Damascus?' We are talking about a geography where the human structure is almost the same, the geographical features are similar, the historical past is extremely common, the music, culture, customs, culinary culture and culinary arts are almost exactly the same."

Kurtulmuş stated that they could reveal a high level of wealth with the synergy corridor to be created through the cities from Gaziantep to Aleppo. Stating that the cities of the region can move forward with the help of the synergy corridor after the end of terrorism, Kurtulmuş said: "In this context, it is obvious that the Development Road Project, which is an important international project, will seriously develop all the people of the region, especially Turkey and Iraq. The transportation of goods and services between Asia and Europe will be facilitated within a line of approximately 1200 kilometers from the Fav port in the Persian Gulf in Iraq to Türkiye, thus creating a great wealth in the new Silk Road." "It will emerge as a branch of the Highway. Imagine the mobility that will occur with the connection of this 1200-kilometer line to Türkiye via trains and highways, as well as the construction of a 320-kilometer road between Şanlıurfa and Ovaköy. Moreover, 4 countries have made a joint agreement to build this road."

Stating that the construction of these roads in the region will enable the countries and cities of the region to enter into a strong mobility, Kurtulmuş stated that it will also pave the way for a local economic development.

Noting that the region is important, Kurtulmuş said: "There is another group that will lose with the end of terrorism, let me tell you that. With the end of terrorism, the war barons who win from the war economy will lose. The war barons who win from the conflict economy will lose. With the end of terrorism and the establishment of the terror-free zone, peace economy will emerge as a new concept in this region, with God's permission, and our achievements in the peace economy will be an example to the whole world. In this context, the point we have reached is to establish bilateral relations with countries, and the other country with the countries in the region. "I hope that the issue of Terror-free Turkey and terror-free region will continue to open new horizons for us. We all know that relations between states are not just about relations between states, ministries and official institutions, but are actually and primarily relations between peoples."

Thanking the people of Gaziantep for hosting Syrians, Kurtulmuş said that Gaziantep showed Anatolian hospitality.

Kurtulmuş continued his words as follows: "We now have at least 3 million Syrian brothers in Syria who speak Turkish, love Türkiye, and are devoted to Türkiye. For this reason, we thank both Gaziantep and the whole of Türkiye. Our local economy will definitely develop. We will all witness the development of this local economy day by day. For this, our university, especially my professors from our university, and our university faculty friends will prepare projects, road maps, and regional projects on the development of Türkiye and the region. "We request you to work on the issues they deem important for development. We also request that all non-governmental organizations operating in this region, especially the chambers of commerce and industry, our chambers of agriculture, carry out additional and special studies to contribute to this process."

Explaining that the ruins of war should be left behind, Kurtulmuş said that it is time to see the benefits of peace. Stating that they will support the process by working together, Kurtulmuş said: "We have come a long way in the most difficult issue in the history of the Republic. We have achieved results, we will get them. Mothers will no longer cry in this country, in this region. We will never face a threat or a danger such as whether Turkey is divided or will be divided. We know that water sleeps, the enemy does not sleep. While we are walking together with the overwhelming majority of the nation with these good intentions and sincere efforts, some internal and external circles are also trying to bring these matters to an end." "We estimate and foresee what we can do to achieve this goal. To be frank, this issue is not just about ending a terrorist organization or an armed terrorist organization. It is not just about ending an armed organization and passing a law for this purpose."

Stating that they cannot distinguish Turks from Kurds, Kurds from Arabs, and Arabs from others, Kurtulmuş said that Gaziantep is one of the most important examples.

Stating that they were trying to sow discord among people, Kurtulmuş said: "They gave weapons and bombs to the terrorist organizations they founded and caused to be established. But they did not have the power to distinguish the hearts of the people from each other. Now we say that we are not just talking about the liquidation process of a terrorist organization. The road ahead of us is the beginning of bringing together our dispersed and dispersed parts, uniting them and acting together as a whole. That's why we want to be the admiral power of this region."