Numan Kurtulmuş: Both Turks and Kurds will continue their journey as one and together

Attending the closing ceremony of the "Bosphorus Diplomacy Forum '26" held on Democracy and Freedoms Island, Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş delivered important messages regarding the agenda of foreign policy and the fight against terrorism.

Arguing that Turkey is one of the most important actors in the new multi-centered world, Kurtulmuş stated that the momentum gained is the beginning of a global-scale initiative that stands out in almost every field.

"Other countries blocked it"

Drawing attention to Turkey's negotiator and solution-oriented stance in foreign policy, Kurtulmuş recalled the table established in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine in 2022. Stating that Western countries were incapable of resolving the crisis, Kurtulmuş used the following expressions:

"We possess a foreign policy perception and power capable of bringing the most difficult issues to the diplomatic table, discussing them, and changing results in Turkey's favor. For example, while all Western countries remained incapable of solving the problem in the issue between Russia and Ukraine, the two sides were gathered around the same table in Istanbul in March 2022 under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and began to negotiate. In fact, let me also say this; the agreement, which had been drafted and signed, could not be realized at that time because other countries did not want it. If that agreement had been realized, the Russia-Ukraine War would have ended long ago today."

"Turkey has only one axis"

Stating that Turkey conducts an active and multilateral diplomacy, Kurtulmuş said that relations are maintained across a wide spectrum from NATO to the Turkic world. Reacting sharply to "axis shift" criticisms, Kurtulmuş noted the following:

"The point that certain circles cannot comprehend, and where they occasionally attempt to criticize us, is that 'Turkey is undergoing an axis shift.' What those gentlemen understand by axis is falling into line behind the West. What we understand by axis is this: Turkey has only one axis. And that is its own national, domestic axis. We do not speak differently behind closed doors than we do in public squares. This principled stance of ours also forces countries that approach issues on a day-to-day basis to align themselves."

"We are leaving the terrorism issue behind"

In the final part of his speech, emphasizing regional integrity and a "Terror-Free Turkey," Kurtulmuş stated that the conflict process, which has been ongoing for over 40 years, will now come to an end, and concluded his words as follows:

"In this geography, in our country, we are leaving behind the terrorism issue that has wasted nearly half of the first century of our Republic. We are now leaving behind this process that has continued for over 40 years, in which thousands of our people have been martyred, tens of thousands of our people have died, and villages and cities have been destroyed and devastated. In this country, Turks, Kurds, and people from other ethnic backgrounds will continue their journey as one and together, with God's permission. Not only within Turkey's borders but also outside them, those beautiful days when Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and all other elements are one will be re-established, and a region free of terrorism will be built once again."

News Source: 12punto