Erdoğan's statement on 'Fethullah Gülen' and 'Bahçeli': 'His end was a dishonorable death, like other demons'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made remarks at his party's Provincial Chairmen's Meeting.

Here are the highlights from Erdoğan's speech:

We have never bowed down to power centers. They published declarations against the nation in the middle of the night; we crumpled them up and threw them in the trash. They attempted a coup with street terror during the Gezi events; we stood up for our democracy. They launched operations against the elected government with the February 7 MİT crisis and subsequently the December 17-25 operation. We did not surrender to any of them. On the night of July 15, we stood shoulder to shoulder with our noble nation and taught the FETÖ scoundrels, who dishonorably fired bullets at the people, a lesson.

While cowards who slipped away between tanks watched the nation's resistance from television screens while sipping their coffee, we made the squares unbearable for the coup plotters. We said there is a destiny above destiny. We defeated the coup plotters, the traitors, and the dignity-less people whose eyes were blinded by blood. We never deviated for a moment from the path drawn by our nation.

Throughout this difficult struggle, even when we paid a price ourselves, we did not make the nation and the country pay a price. We had young people who were treacherously martyred by terrorists while they were still in the spring of their lives. We had friends who fell to the ground by the bullets of FETÖ members, and children who drank the sherbet of martyrdom at just 17 years old. Like every death, the passing of these friends and brothers was early and untimely. It cast a burning fire into our hearts.

THE DEATH OF TERRORIST LEADER GÜLEN

The end of those who turned the nation's children into mindless puppets by calling it 'service' or 'charity' has been a dishonorable death, just like other human-looking demons in history. Our Lord will hold these traitors accountable one by one for the evil they have done to this country and this nation.

As a state, we will continue our struggle with determination until FETÖ is completely liquidated. We will surely be breathing down the necks of the FETÖ hyena pack with all our state institutions. I commemorate all the heroes who were martyred with mercy, and may their souls rest in peace.

THE CONGRESS IN THE AKP

As you know, as of October 12, we have initiated our 8th Ordinary Congress process. We have successfully completed our congresses in a festive atmosphere. I congratulate my brothers and sisters who were newly elected and those who continue in their duties.

There is no room for selfishness under the roof of the AK Party. The dough of this cadre is made of 'us'. In the heart of this cadre, there is not a hunger for seats, positions, or ranks, but a passion to serve the nation. Taking on a duty is certainly important, but what is essential is to be a volunteer. The AK Party was born as a movement of the heart. We will not please those who are lying in wait to open a breach in the solid, unshakable, and indestructible fortress of the AK Party for the sake of sedition and discord.

I said it in our MKYK meeting yesterday; as long as our party is strong, Turkey is in safe hands. We know there are evil centers waiting for the AK Party to stumble. We will not give them the opportunity they hope for. As a party and an alliance, we are taking steps to dissipate the political atmosphere that has been strained due to consecutive elections over the last year.

"WE SAY LET US BE ONE FOR 85 MILLION"

We are striving to turn the 3.5-year period, where the ballot box is not on the horizon, into a mobilization of action for our country. While our region is going through a painful period, and the fire Israel lit in Gaza and carried to Lebanon is approaching our borders, we are trying to strengthen our internal front. We say to our 85 million, come, let us be one, let us be great, let us be alive.

We want us to be able to come together as 85 million on the common denominator of Turkey. The fact that those who sow seeds of hatred among our nation are cast aside, even if through a dubious congress process, is a valuable gain for Turkey's unity and solidarity.

We must not allow the incompetent, ambitious politicians of the old Turkey to poison this climate. Tension and street politics will cause losses not only to those who attempt it but to the entire nation. No one has the right to make our country's burden even heavier. This nation does not forgive those who enter into an equation that will cause Turkey to lose.

FIRST REACTION TO BAHÇELİ'S STATEMENTS

We hope that the historic window of opportunity opened by the People's Alliance will not be sacrificed for personal agendas. We want to build a Turkey without terrorism, together as the political institution, the Parliament, civil society, the press, academia, and the nation as a whole.

The state exists for the nation and to serve the nation. The duty of the state is to provide the best service to its citizens within its means. A state that has weaknesses in these fundamental issues means it is not fulfilling its duty properly.