Is the New Opening 'Dolmabahçe-2'?!

Since the statement made by the terrorist leader in İmralı on February 27, it has been expected that the separatist terrorist organization PKK would convene its so-called congress, dissolve itself, and announce that it has laid down its arms. The AKP and MHP are also reminding everyone of this almost every day, as if summoning a spirit.

MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli had stated on March 20: "For example, I want the PKK to convene its congress in the Malazgirt district of Muş with the support, contribution, and assistance of the DEM Party mayor, put an end to the dissolution debates," and "finish this business," setting May 4 as the date for this.

71 days have passed since February 27, 50 days since March 20, and 5 days since May 4; yet the PKK has not taken the expected and requested step.

Finally, it was reported that Erdoğan said the following during a meeting with the AKP Central Executive Committee (MYK), members of parliament, and some ministers:

"We have overcome all obstacles. Today or tomorrow, the PKK will lay down its arms and dissolve the organization. After that, a new process, a new era for all of us, will begin. A great task will fall upon politics... As the People's Alliance, we will strive to solve our country's problems in unity and solidarity. We will not engage in any behavior that would offend the families of martyrs or veterans. The process will be clarified within 2 weeks."

Good heavens, while it is said there are "no conditions, no bargaining"; what could these "overcome obstacles" be?!

The Terrorist Leader's Last Message

Yes, the terrorist leader made that statement on February 27; but there was also a condition that was persistently ignored and unheard, and the terrorist leader conveyed this condition once again through Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who passed away on May 3.

Even though the government and its media continue to pretend not to understand, let us explain it clearly.

The hospital announced that Önder passed away at 16:10.

On the same day at 20:44, DEM shared the condolence message sent by the terrorist leader for Önder.

How and through what channel did that message reach DEM from İmralı in such a short time as 4 hours? This means there is real-time communication with the terrorist leader!..

So, what was that message read at the funeral ceremony held for Sırrı Süreyya Önder at the Atatürk Cultural Center the next day, where he was referred to as the "PKK leader"? While expressing his feelings and thoughts about Önder, the terrorist leader emphasized the following:

"He had noted down with his own hands the last sentence we added to the call we would make during our last meeting on February 27, and he wanted to read it personally."

Let us return to February 27 for this event he mentioned. After Pervin Buldan read the Turkish version of the call and Ahmet Türk read the Kurdish version, Önder stated that he wanted to share a note from the terrorist leader and said:

"While presenting this perspective, he also conveyed to us the note that, in practice, the laying down of arms and the dissolution of the PKK requires the recognition of democratic politics and the legal dimension."

This was the crux of the terrorist leader's so-called call, this camouflaged sentence that encompassed all the conditions for the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve itself.

In the process that followed, the attitude of the parties has been as follows: while the People's Alliance says, "First disarmament and dissolution, then democratization," the PKK-DEM has sent messages that Ankara's expectations will be met only after all their legal and constitutional demands are met, primarily the "liberation" of the terrorist leader and his presiding over the so-called congress.

And so, the terrorist leader reminded everyone of this once again on the occasion of Sırrı Süreyya Önder's passing.

If Erdoğan's statement, "We have overcome all obstacles," is true, it means significant progress has been made in this bargaining.

Bahçeli Had Called the Dolmabahçe Agreement 'Sèvres'

When the terrorist leader made that call, it was rumored that February 28 had been set for it, but it was moved to February 27 at the request of the government.

The reason for this fine-tuning was to prevent the Dolmabahçe agreement—which was announced on February 28, 10 years ago, which Erdoğan initially approved by saying, "What was asked that the government did not give in 12 years?" but later "put on the shelf"—from coming to mind.

Let us immediately recall the reactions of MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, who started this latest opening, to the Dolmabahçe agreement. He said;

- "Dolmabahçe Palace has not witnessed such disgrace even a hundred years ago... The PKK's messages, the roadmap of separatism, have been announced with pride... My brothers who voted for the AKP; the party you supported by saying it is a hope has raised a white flag to the PKK, will you not see this?.. It is about to deed Turkey to terrorists... In Dolmabahçe, Turkey's head has been bowed, the Turkish nation has been denied and ignored. The separatist terror edict has been published... The murderer Öcalan, in his so-called message, talks about taking the 30-year conflict process to a permanent peace and reaching a democratic solution... He has formulated this invitation as a historical declaration of intent for democratic politics to replace armed struggle... This means the AKP has said yes to the PKK being brought into politics, to a general amnesty, to the murderer being set free... Hoping for the PKK to convene a congress and make a decision, and being a prop to this, is not naivety but treason and complicity. The PKK will not lay down its arms without taking land from Turkey. The PKK will not bury its weapons or lower its barrels without fully achieving its treacherous goals. If anyone claims otherwise, they are either without honor or a wretch who has had their mind and logic seized... The PKK will not lay down its arms before the calculations and goals of the Greater Middle East Project (BOP) are achieved."

- "They were also calling the Treaty of Sèvres peace, and it was known to everyone what kind of hell it would bring upon the Turkish nation... There is essentially no difference between the 433-article Treaty of Sèvres, which is Turkey's death and destruction document, and the betrayal text of February 28, 2015... Asking the PKK to lay down its arms through an extraordinary congress is a treacherous addition to the efforts of politicization and legitimization. The AKP has turned a blind eye to this or supported it openly. Congresses are democratic grounds... Asking a terrorist organization and a formation of murderers to convene a congress, and facilitating this, is only the work of hypocritical and cursed mentalities... The attempt and coercion of an illegal and unlawful terrorist organization to suddenly transition to the phase of political struggle as if nothing had happened or been experienced will mean that Turkey has been defeated."

An Allegation Not Denied for 3 Days

The reason we point to Dolmabahçe?

Immediately after the terrorist leader's February 27 call, İdris Balüken, one of the actors of the first opening process, commented, "Öcalan's call is, in one respect, an update of the Dolmabahçe agreement."

It was three days ago; Prof. Dr. Ali Muhyiddin al-Qaradaghi, President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, also explained in an interview he gave to Barzanistan media how he had been mediating between Turkey and the PKK for a long time, and then made the following claims in summary regarding the new opening:

- "We are very optimistic about this, why? Because previously, Mr. Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party presented this idea at first. About 10-15 years ago, there was an agreement, an 8-9 point agreement. Now MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli also supports this idea. What does this mean? In Kurdish, we call this 'matured'... The Islamists' approach to the Kurdish issue is much, much better than the nationalists, and it is much easier to reach an agreement with them. However, thank God, now the Turkish nationalists, especially Devlet Bahçeli in the MHP, have also taken a very good step... The Kurdish people are currently in a very good position in Turkey; the Vice President is Kurdish, the Foreign Minister is Kurdish, several other ministers are Kurdish. In this situation, there is not much difference between Kurdish and Turkish. However, these rights and freedoms need to be enshrined in the constitution, then they need to be worked on, this is a very, very important thing. This is a strategic thing for all components of Turkey, for Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and them."

- "We have come together with President Erdoğan many times... I said that the process should start again... We had contacts through Cemil Bayık both before and after that period when the first process was broken... We conveyed our recommendations to both sides. An agreement (Dolmabahçe agreement) had been made before. They also expressed that they were ready for this agreement... We received their approval on this matter from the people sent by Cemil Bayık. Later, we went to Germany and met with Ahmet Türk to discuss the political dimension of the process... They were all in agreement on returning to that previous agreement."

- "We also conveyed these developments to Mr. Erdoğan and said, 'There is such a situation, you can work on this issue.'... This process completely involves stages such as conveying messages and giving mutual answers. As far as I know, the efforts currently being carried out are a continuation of this process."

Let us note that at Sırrı Süreyya Önder's funeral ceremony at the AKM, it was mentioned that a message from Masoud Barzani was read, referring to him as the "President of the Iraqi Federated Kurdistan Region" in addition to the terrorist leader, and that the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, al-Qaradaghi, also met with Barzani on the day this interview was published to discuss "the future of Kurds in Syria and Rojava and the peace process in Turkey."

Officials give speeches about a "terror-free Turkey" almost every day; but even though three days have passed, no one has come out to deny al-Qaradaghi's claim, especially the claim that it is a "continuation of the Dolmabahçe process."

If it is true, what will Bahçeli say to this?.. Could Bahçeli be what Erdoğan meant by "We have overcome all obstacles"?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

May 9, 2025