BREAKING NEWS... Erdoğan's Lausanne message days later: How will the disarmament process work?

President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists' questions on the plane returning from his visit to Albania. Erdoğan made statements regarding the "Lausanne" reference in the PKK terrorist organization's dissolution declaration, which has caused public debate.

"I DID NOT SAY SUCH A THING IN EITHER THE ADDRESS TO THE NATION OR THE MEETINGS"

Erdoğan stated that he had not made any assessment regarding the Treaty of Lausanne, saying, "Did you hear such a thing from me? I did not say such a word in either the addresses to the nation or in small-scale meetings. We did not even think of such a thing. It has nothing to do with the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process. Unfortunately, they don't hear, but they make things up," he said.

Highlights from Erdoğan's statements are as follows:

QUESTION: In the latest statement made by the PKK terrorist organization, as you know, there was an emphasis on Lausanne. After this emphasis on Lausanne, reactions and criticisms began to come as if the government had made this statement. In fact, while the opposition was reacting very harshly to Lausanne, CHP leader Özgür Özel said, "The signatures of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli are under this statement." However, in your last group meeting, you had, so to speak, moved 10 steps closer to the opposition and had appreciatively acknowledged the support given to this process by CHP leader Özgür Özel. But after your statement, such a statement came. How should we evaluate this? Will this language continue like this?

I have not used the slightest expression in any of my speeches regarding whether these developments have a connection to Lausanne. Did you hear it from me? I have not had such a statement in the addresses to the nation, nor have I made such a statement in small-scale meetings. We did not think of such a thing. This has nothing to do with a Terror-Free Turkey. Unfortunately, they don't hear, they make things up. I attach great importance to the approach of my people in the East and Southeast in the face of these developments. They already gave the necessary answer in Diyarbakır. Our interlocutor is our nation, our brothers and sisters in the region. Our nation knows very well what we say, what we support, and what we prioritize. On our agenda is the complete exclusion and sidelining of terrorism. It is the terrorist organization dissolving itself and laying down its arms. We are focusing on this happening completely, smoothly, and without any accidents. We will not consent to the discussion of issues such as the unity, integrity, unitary structure, regime, flag, and official language of our state. Let no one have any hesitation; our state and our government are in control of their agenda. The People's Alliance is in complete solidarity.

HOW WILL DISARMAMENT HAPPEN?

QUESTION: For the continuation of this process, will the results of the agreement made with the Damascus administration in Syria be looked at? Again, what will be the roles of the Baghdad and Erbil administrations in the processes regarding the terrorists laying down their arms and the surrender of these weapons?

How the work regarding the dissolution of the organization and the surrender of weapons will be carried out from now on is under the follow-up of our state's security units. Negotiations are also being conducted with our counterparts in our neighboring countries regarding how the weapons of the terrorists outside our borders will be surrendered. There are plans regarding how the Baghdad and Erbil administrations will take part in this process. When the surrender of weapons and the complete liquidation of the organization take place, terrorism will be completely removed from Turkey's agenda with steps that strengthen our unity and solidarity. The hearts of mothers and fathers will be put at ease. The complete removal of violence will bring about the strengthening of civil politics. It will be possible for Turkey to reach its goals more easily. This step will also serve the peace, development, and stability of Iraq and Syria. We currently have very good relations with the Syrian administration. Syrian President Mr. Ahmed Shara came to Turkey twice. We had extremely productive meetings. Regarding the question you asked, our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, our Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın, and our Defense Minister Yaşar Güler held meetings in the first stage. Our contacts continue. Hopefully, we will achieve what we hope for.

QUESTION: Together with Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, you ended a 50-year nightmare. This is actually a step that requires a Nobel Peace Prize, a revolution. Because for the first time in its history, the PKK announced that it was laying down its arms along with its dissolution. What will be our expectation or expectations from now on? When exactly will we say, "Okay, it's done"?

The ultimate goal of a Terror-Free Turkey is clear. To bury the weapons. It is essential that the terrorist organization completely lays down its arms, that the dissolution decision is implemented without any shortcomings, and that illegality is abandoned. We will follow the implementation of the decisions taken very closely. We will achieve a Terror-Free Turkey without harming the spiritual memory of our martyrs and the rights of our martyrs' relatives and veterans. With the complete removal of terrorism from Turkey's agenda, the door to a brand new era will be opened. Look, the scourge of terrorism was a shackle on the feet of this country for years. We have started to break the chains that slowed us down and tied our feet. Why were halays (traditional dances) danced in the East and Southeast when the terrorist organization left the regions where it was located? All these halays had a meaning. My citizens danced halays there because peace has finally come to the East and Southeast. Tayyip Erdoğan does not want this peace and prosperity that has come to the region for himself; he wants it for his country, he wants it for his region. We must know this very well. The economic rise in this entire region will come with this climate of peace. The life of my people in the East and Southeast will become much different. Both commercial life will revive and my citizens will breathe on the streets and avenues. The plateaus will revive and stand up. Our shepherds will be able to live their lives safely with their herds on the plateau. Peace will now be felt in every corner of my country. A few faint voices are coming out, and as our citizens embrace the process, these voices will also be silenced. Our expectation is that the book of terrorism will be closed, never to be opened again.

QUESTION: For the continuation of this process, will the results of the agreement made with the Damascus administration in Syria be looked at? Again, what will be the roles of the Baghdad and Erbil administrations in the processes regarding the terrorists laying down their arms and the surrender of these weapons?

How the work regarding the dissolution of the organization and the surrender of weapons will be carried out from now on is under the follow-up of our state's security units. Negotiations are also being conducted with our counterparts in our neighboring countries regarding how the weapons of the terrorists outside our borders will be surrendered. There are plans regarding how the Baghdad and Erbil administrations will take part in this process. When the surrender of weapons and the complete liquidation of the organization take place, terrorism will be completely removed from Turkey's agenda with steps that strengthen our unity and solidarity. The hearts of mothers and fathers will be put at ease. The complete removal of violence will bring about the strengthening of civil politics. It will be possible for Turkey to reach its goals more easily. This step will also serve the peace, development, and stability of Iraq and Syria. We currently have very good relations with the Syrian administration. Syrian President Mr. Ahmed Shara came to Turkey twice. We had extremely productive meetings. Regarding the question you asked, our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, our Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın, and our Defense Minister Yaşar Güler held meetings in the first stage. Our contacts continue. Hopefully, we will achieve what we hope for.

QUESTION: Mr. President, in your last group speech, you said that you found the point reached regarding a Terror-Free Turkey very successful. You emphasized that our population of 86 million lies beneath this success. Could you elaborate on this? What kind of function and role did the nation have in this success?

Can a victory be imagined in which the nation is not involved, in which the nation is not functional? Right now, my citizens from the farthest East to the farthest West, from the farthest North to the farthest South are involved in this business. The nation is involved in this business. My nation has a very, very large share in this determination. May Allah be pleased with my nation. We are sharing these developments, this formation together, and we will continue to share them. Indeed, if the East and Southeast can dance halays with great excitement and enthusiasm within this process, if these halays are danced as far as Hakkâri and Iğdır, it means that this is now coming from their hearts. They are expressing this excitement and enthusiasm with the halays on the streets. Our entire nation stood tall against terrorism. The successes we achieved in the fight against terrorism did not happen only with state policies; they also happened with the determination and solidarity of our nation. The result of this struggle brought us to the process of building a Terror-Free Turkey. Therefore, this result is the success of the entire nation. There is no room for any discrimination or any exception in this success. In our success in the fight against terrorism, our people in the region who stood by their state against the terrorist organization in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia have a share. Our people who prevented terrorists from entering the Black Sea have a share. Our people in Central Anatolia, where martyr funerals were held almost every day in some periods, have a share. The Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean regions, which ensured the development of our defense industry with their contribution to the economy, have a share. When I say the success of our nation, I am talking about a success achieved with the common determination of 86 million. We are building our future together with the spirit of Malazgirt, and we will continue to do so. Our youth and children should not live in the shadow of terrorism, but in a free, peaceful, and safe environment. As the government and the alliance, our only desire is to leave them a peaceful and safe Turkey, and a safe and prosperous region.