Minister Çiftçi: We must reach a conclusion

Process Message from Minister Çiftçi: 'This Time We Must Reach a Conclusion'

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi evaluated the agenda on a special TRT Haber broadcast. Here are the highlights from Minister Çiftçi's statements:

First of all, I would like to thank our national team for their success yesterday and for giving us such national pride. Hopefully, after 24 years, we will be able to compete in the World Cups again.

'TERROR-FREE TURKEY' PROCESS

After this introduction, let us continue with the topic of a terror-free Turkey. The goal of a terror-free Turkey is a will of the People's Alliance, shaped by the strong leadership and determination of our esteemed President and the strong support of the Nationalist Movement Party Chairman, Dr. Devlet Bahçeli. Over time, this will has coincided with the expectations of our nation, found a response in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), and ultimately, the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission established in the TBMM has conducted a fine study on this matter under the chairmanship of our esteemed Speaker of the Parliament. This will has ultimately transformed into a policy of our state; it is now becoming a state policy today.

In this process, there was a parliamentary dimension, which was carried out by our Speaker of the Parliament and the commission. On the executive side, under the chairmanship of our President, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, our Minister of National Defense, and our Head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) have conducted a fine process and achieved successful work. We, as the Ministry of Interior, are strongly supporting these efforts.

I would like to thank our Grand National Assembly of Turkey, our President, our ministries, and our Head of MİT for the successful work carried out to date; they are truly conducting an important process. We, as the Ministry of Interior, support this process and are carrying out our own work regarding it. At the very least, we are continuing our operations and work related to terrorism within our own borders, within our national borders, to ensure that the process is not sabotaged or derailed.

Because the process must not be derailed, it must not fail. This time, we must bring this to a conclusion. At this point, our country has truly carried out successful work in the fight against terrorism for years and has proven its success in this regard. To give an example; for instance, we have been fighting against the PKK terrorist organization for 40 years. In fact, one of the most important steps of the terror-free Turkey and terror-free region process is to complete the process regarding the PKK, to liquidate the organization, and to save our country from this trouble and this shackle.

While this struggle was being carried out, our country achieved successful work in the fight against terrorism, and we are at a good point today. However, it is not just the fight against the PKK; the fight against FETÖ, and groups that exploit religion—we can include DAESH among these—is also a part of this struggle. Left-wing marginal groups were also within the scope of the fight against terrorism. Therefore, our country possesses valuable experience in the fight against the PKK, FETÖ, DAESH, and other struggles. Hopefully, together with this experience, we will manage this process well and bring it to success.