Bahçeli Declares Dawn of “Terror-Free Turkey” as New Century of National Unity Unfolds

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), on Tuesday heralded the emergence of a new national era, vowing steadfast support for the “Terror-Free Turkey” initiative and praising the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a historic turning point.

Speaking during a gathering of his party’s parliamentary group on July 1, Bahçeli emphasized the symbolic rebirth of the Turkish Republic in its centennial century, stating, “After the long winter, just like the grass sprouting from beneath the ice, everything will bloom again. The storms will pass, the clouds will disperse, and the reborn sun will herald the Century of Türkiye.”

“Disarmament Must Be Completed Without Delay”

Highlighting the PKK’s official declaration of disarmament on May 12 and its planned symbolic weapons destruction, Bahçeli urged that the disarmament process be finalized swiftly. “Turkey has entered a new era. Therefore, the PKK’s disarmament process must be completed immediately,” he said.

He warned against “provocative rhetoric and reckless actions” that could derail the fragile gains made in recent weeks. “There must be utmost caution against provocations that could ignite a conflict that no one will be able to contain,” he stressed.

Bahçeli also acknowledged the role of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, describing its conduct as “responsible and outcome-oriented” amid its ongoing engagement with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. That meeting is expected to take place in the coming days.

The Moral Imperative of Peace

Invoking the words of 11th-century Arab prose master Al-Jahiz and Ottoman jurist Ahmet Cevdet Pasha, Bahçeli framed the current transformation as not only political but also moral and civilizational. “If even birds long for their nests, how can humans not melt like candles for their homeland?” he asked rhetorically, before adding, “The noble will ready to burn like candles for this nation is the Nationalist Movement Party and the People’s Alliance.”

Bahçeli stressed that the call for a terror-free homeland transcends eras, adding: “It is the manifestation of a national conscience in motion. It is the longing for a sustainable peace and welfare.”

He described the process not as nation-building but as restoring natural harmony through “unity without foreign influence,” asserting that Turkey's internal security must act as a bulwark against the regional chaos sweeping neighboring geographies.

“No Place for Terror in the New Century”

Bahçeli declared unequivocally that “there is no place for terror in the new century,” and that the Turkish nation would not again endure the pain and sacrifice of the past. “The bloody chapter must close once and for all. Hope must rise, and a climate of peace must prevail. There is no turning back from this path.”

Reaffirming his party’s commitment to national unity and reconciliation, Bahçeli called on every citizen to contribute to building a future of “prosperity and security.” “If there is no Türkiye, there are no ideals,” he said. “The cultural code that allows us to coexist, to develop a shared language, to form a collective conscience, is our national treasure. This is what we mean when we say, ‘Türkiye as One Heart.’”

As the nation stands at the threshold of what Bahçeli calls “Türkiye’s rebirth,” the nationalist leader signaled an unwavering determination to anchor the country’s future in peace, sovereignty, and shared identity, declaring: “Let us embrace peace and brotherhood, and chart the roadmap for our common destiny.”