U-turn after U-turn from AKP figures: Mehmet Metiner calls the separatist terrorist organization PKK a 'social movement with millions of supporters'

Another highly controversial statement has come from the AKP regarding the "process" that emerged following the call by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli and continued with the expectation that the terrorist organization PKK would disband itself upon the call of its leader, Abdullah Öcalan.

Yeni Şafak columnist and former AKP deputy Mehmet Metiner, one of the most visible figures on television screens representing the ruling party on this issue, argued that the PKK should be "transformed into a power for Turkey."

In his column today, Metiner wrote, "The PKK is not an organization consisting solely of armed elements. It is also a political and social movement with millions of supporters. It is a movement that has die-hard supporters not only in Turkey but also in Iraq, Iran, and Syria, as well as a significant number of followers in European countries. Its popular support and armed strength in Syria are known. It is also no secret how it can mobilize its militants and supporters in Europe along an anti-Turkey axis," and added the following:

"Therefore, those who think about solving the problem only on the axis of dissolution and laying down arms have, in my opinion, a wrong and problematic perspective. What really needs to be done is to ensure a voluntary union and integration. This is a major integration initiative. This is what I mean when I say 'the PKK should be transformed into a power for Turkey'."

'WE WILL ENCOUNTER THEM AGAIN' WARNING

Metiner made the following assessment in his article:

"If we do not want to leave problem areas behind us, or in other words, if we do not want other powers to infect that sociology in the future, what we really need to do is to implement that great democratic integration project that will transform the PKK, along with the broad social base it sits on, into a power for Turkey.

This is the meaning of the construction process of the Century of Turkey. Anything else means just saving the day. Even if the dissolution and disarmament take place as envisioned, if there is cowardice in building the new Turkey or the Century of Turkey that will ensure this voluntary integration, it will become inevitable to encounter different PKKs in the future that feed on the existing problem areas.

Therefore, the construction process that will turn this historic opportunity into a permanent gain and an unshakable pillar requires great courage. I see this courage in Erdoğan and Bahçeli.

It should be known that those who use this historic process, which provides an opportunity for us to build Turkey's strong future with a voluntary union, as a tool for policies to save the day or sacrifice it for political ambitions, will be doing the greatest harm to Turkey."