AKP's Tayyar comments on İmralı following Erdoğan-Bahçeli meeting: 'Consensus has been reached'

AKP's Şamil Tayyar has claimed that there is no disagreement between MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, who said in his party's group meeting, "If no one else approaches this visit, I will take three of my friends with me and I will not hesitate to go to İmralı with our own means," and President Erdoğan. Stating, "I know that a consensus was reached on this issue during their last meeting," Tayyar added, "That process is being completed today."

MHP Chairman Bahçeli said in today's group meeting, "If no one approaches this visit, if everyone insists on playing the three monkeys, I say it clearly: I will take three of my friends with me, I will not hesitate or shy away from going to İmralı with our own means, and I will not refrain from sitting face-to-face around a table. I will not wink in the dark, I will not make excuses, I will say whatever I have to say bravely, with self-confidence, looking my interlocutor straight in the eye."

Subsequently, the National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission met for the 17th time under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), Numan Kurtulmuş. In the closed-door meeting, where Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, and National Intelligence Organization (MİT) President İbrahim Kalın also gave presentations, it was decided after 5 and a half hours that a vote would be held on Friday at 14:00 regarding going to İmralı Prison to meet with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

AKP's Tayyar, evaluating both Bahçeli's statement and the commission's decision, wrote the following:

"I do not think there is a disagreement between our President and Devlet Bey regarding the İmralı visit.

I know that a consensus was reached on this issue during their last meeting.

It is probable that the commission will take this decision as soon as possible and this visit will take place soon.

For the decision, it was expected that state officials, especially MİT President Kalın, would convey the latest information from the field to the commission.

That process is being completed today. It may be right or wrong, it can be debated, but a political crisis will not emerge from this issue."