Politics
Terror-free Türkiye can be model for world: Kurtulmuş
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş spoke at the “In Search of a New Social Contract in the Middle East” conference organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM) and the University of Oxford in Ankara on Monday and called for a new regional order built on justice, cooperation and shared prosperity, arguing that Middle Eastern countries must move beyond rivalries and external intervention to establish lasting peace. The veteran politician also touched upon the terror-free Türkiye initiative he was heavily involved in.
He described Türkiye’s ongoing initiative to end terrorism as a model that could offer lessons for other conflict-resolution efforts, stressing that its objectives extended beyond the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK. “The issue is not simply laying down arms or the disarmament and dissolution of a group,” he said, framing the process as an effort to rebuild social cohesion and enable communities divided by decades of conflict to live together in unity.
He said the initiative had advanced more quickly than some international examples, with progress achieved within approximately two years in areas where other processes had taken eight or nine years. However, Kurtulmuş cautioned against presenting the Turkish experience as a universal formula for resolving every conflict. Instead, he said, it should be considered a potential source of inspiration for international efforts to establish peace and social reconciliation.
He outlined several defining characteristics of the process, including its domestic origins, its grounding in national interests rather than party politics, parliamentary oversight, transparency and its connection to regional stability. Kurtulmuş emphasized that the initiative had emerged from Türkiye’s own political dynamics, historical experience and social needs rather than being designed in foreign capitals. He also rejected the idea that any major social issue could be entirely removed from politics, saying the distinction was that the process had not been confined to the agendas of individual political parties. The involvement of Parliament was particularly important, he said, as it provided a platform for different political views to be discussed and helped establish broader ownership of the process.
Kurtulmuş said the parliamentary commission had consulted academics, legal experts, civil society representatives and other segments of society, with their views recorded and considered as part of its work. He cited the commission’s report, which received 47 votes from its 50 members, and subsequent legislation that he said was supported by 467 lawmakers as significant milestones. The broad parliamentary backing, he argued, reflected a shared desire for peace, coexistence, economic development and social integration. He described the process as one of the most significant undertakings of the Republic of Türkiye’s second century, saying its success depended on ensuring that political disagreements were resolved through dialogue rather than coercion.
For decades, the PKK remained the main security threat for Türkiye, and its violent campaign is blamed for the deaths of thousands of people and immense economic losses, especially in southeastern Türkiye. The PKK claimed to be fighting for the rights of the Kurdish community and exploited the youth from the community for so-called Kurdish self-rule. Apart from small nationalist parties, almost all political parties openly supported the initiative, something rare in polarized Turkish politics. At Parliament, Kurtulmuş chaired the inaugural committee that sought input into the initiative, which eventually led to the inception of the bill on terror-free Türkiye.
Kurtulmuş stressed that lasting peace required recognition of the shared future of Turkish and Kurdish communities, rejecting approaches that treated their destinies as separate. “No proposal that fails to protect the honor of Turks and the pride of Kurds can establish lasting peace in this country,” he said, recalling the principle that had guided the initiative from its outset. He argued that the peoples of the region, including Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Sunnis, Shiites, Muslims and non-Muslims, shared interconnected interests and faced common challenges. “No people in this region can achieve prosperity on their own by following the dictates of imperialist powers,” he said, calling for a common social compact grounded in the recognition that the region’s communities shared both a history and a future.
Kurtulmuş also linked Türkiye’s domestic peace efforts to developments in neighboring countries, arguing that regional stability could not be secured through isolated national initiatives. He pointed to efforts to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s state structures and developments concerning armed groups in Iraq as important elements of the wider regional security environment. He said no country in the region could eliminate terrorism on its own, given the cross-border consequences of armed groups operating in neighboring states. Regardless of whether such groups were driven by ethnic, ideological or religious motivations, he argued, weapons should remain outside the control of nonstate armed actors. The objective of a terror-free Türkiye and a terror-free region, he said, should therefore be understood as a shared regional necessity rather than solely a national security goal.
Fairer order
The parliamentary speaker also said the international system was undergoing profound changes, requiring countries to reconsider the principles governing global power and international relations. “The issue is not who replaces whom at the center of power, but how power can be limited and how it can be transformed into a humane force within the framework of international law,” he said. Kurtulmuş said the emergence of a multipolar world would not, by itself, guarantee a fairer international order. He stressed the need for a system grounded in justice, fairness, the sovereign equality of nations and the fundamental rights and freedoms of all people.
Türkiye, situated at the crossroads of the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, Balkans and Caucasus, could not remain a passive observer of these transformations, he said, adding that Ankara sought to contribute proactively to regional and global solutions.
Turning to the Middle East, Kurtulmuş argued that outdated political approaches and externally imposed projects could no longer provide answers to the region’s challenges. “The old Middle East is over,” he said, calling on regional nations to develop common responses to global developments and work toward a new regional framework for peace. He said competition among countries could strengthen the region if it did not turn into hostility, emphasizing that each country’s prosperity and development should be regarded as contributing to the wider region. Peace and security, he added, must extend beyond silencing weapons to include stronger legal protections and the advancement of human rights.
Kurtulmuş called for a shift away from what he described as the region’s war and terrorism economies toward a peace economy capable of generating new opportunities for development. He said stronger regional cooperation could unlock economic potential through cross-border trade, infrastructure and shared projects, including the Development Road project linking Iraq with wider regional markets. Opening borders to trade and establishing economic corridors connecting Türkiye, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and other neighboring countries could create significant benefits for the region, he said. Kurtulmuş concluded that a new Middle East order would require countries to strengthen the rule of law, democracy and political pluralism at home while expanding cooperation across borders. He said Türkiye was prepared to contribute its experience and resources to this effort, expressing hope that the region’s peoples could move beyond divisions imposed over generations and build a future founded on unity, fraternity and peace.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday called for the rapid operationalization of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, welcoming growing cooperation between Türkiye, Romania and Bulgaria to strengthen security in the strategic region.
“We need to operationalize the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub,” von der Leyen said during a joint news briefing with Romanian President Nicusor Dan in Bucharest.
She welcomed the “closer maritime cooperation” among the three countries, stressing that the EU must adopt an “urgency mindset” in addressing defense and security challenges.
“The skies over the Black Sea have darkened, particularly in recent weeks, with drone attacks targeting commercial ships off your coasts, innocent sailors having lost their lives, others are still missing at sea,” she said.
Von der Leyen called for restoring and preserving freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, highlighting its importance for Europe, Ukraine’s economy and global food security.
She also stressed the need to strengthen maritime surveillance and the bloc’s security in the information space.
“Hostile actors are weaponizing the information space, and drone incidents are often doubled by foreign information manipulation and interference,” she warned.
“They target relentlessly our citizens and democracies, sowing fear, spreading uncertainty,” she added.
Von der Leyen said Europe must strengthen its capacity to respond to crises along its borders.
“I am pleased to announce an additional €10 million ($11.2 million) in funding to Romanian authorities for search and rescue operations,” she said.
“This will support your capacity to respond to such incidents rapidly and effectively,” she added.
Turning to the upcoming U.S.-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, von der Leyen reaffirmed European support for Kyiv.
She said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had requested support from European partners for the negotiations and that the bloc was providing it.
“The focus of these peace talks is ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. That must be the goal,” she stressed.
Von der Leyen said the EU was also working on a post-war prosperity plan to support Ukraine’s stability and reconstruction.
“Any meaningful discussions about Europe’s security architecture can only be undertaken once a ceasefire in Ukraine has been achieved,” she said.
Such discussions must take place in an appropriate forum, particularly with NATO allies and EU members, she added.
Moscow has maintained that the U.S.-mediated negotiations should remain strictly trilateral, involving Russia, Ukraine and the U.S., without direct European participation.
The Abu Dhabi talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will mark the fourth round of U.S.-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine under the Trump administration.
They will also be the first such meetings since the previous round in Geneva in February.
At 9:05 a.m., the time of his death, the nation stood still to observe a minute of silence in memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the great statesman and commander who led Türkiye’s liberation from the post-World War I invasion and established the Republic.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, top officials, commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and politicians across the political spectrum gathered at Anıtkabir, Atatürk’s mausoleum in the capital, Ankara, where crowds flocked to pay tribute to Atatürk on the 88th anniversary of his death. In Istanbul, similar scenes unfolded at Dolmabahçe Palace, the Ottoman-era building where Atatürk spent his final days as he battled terminal illness.
“Beloved Atatürk, we remember you on the 88th anniversary of your passing, along with your comrades in arms, members of our parliament who led the War of Independence, our martyrs and veterans who paid a heavy price for our nation. In this challenging period, where our region and the world struggle with crises, we mobilized all our resources to carry the Republic of Türkiye and its 86 million members to a more prosperous future. We will continue resolutely to develop this paradise-like land entrusted to us by our martyrs and veterans, in unity with our nation. May your soul be blessed,” Erdoğan wrote in the memorial book at Anıtkabir.
Erdoğan later spoke at an event on the occasion held by the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History, the only high-level state institution specifically bearing the name of Atatürk. He delved into Atatürk’s past as leader of the independence movement. “At a time when enemies’ boots stained Izmir, he left Istanbul (then the capital of the Ottoman Empire) for Anatolia and sparked the torch of independence,” he said. He recited Atatürk’s remarks about those days when he saw what he defined as “a tendency among the nation for achieving independence that would put those hesitating fighting for it to shame.”
“These words are the crystal-clear indication that the liberation of the country was sought through resilience of the nation, not through submitting to the mandate of other countries, at a time where our independence and the future were threatened,” Erdoğan stated. “This was also a fight for the oppressed nation. As he told Azerbaijan’s representative Ibrahim Abilov when he hosted him in Ankara at the height of the War of Independence, Türkiye’s fight was not just about its own future and its cause was the cause of all oppressed nations, the entire East.”
Compared with subsequent presidents of the country, Atatürk had a relatively short life. He passed away at the age of 57 after suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, something attributed to his lifelong habit of smoking and drinking. The condition ultimately confined him to bed, a man who had survived an assassination attempt, multiple encounters with death on the World War I battlefronts and numerous other challenges throughout his life.
Born in 1881 in then-Ottoman Salonica (Thessaloniki), now in Greece, Mustafa Kemal, as he was known before he was given the unique surname that translates as “Father of Turks,” started a brilliant military career in the early 20th century and served on multiple fronts during the Ottoman Empire’s eventful last years, from Libya to the Balkans. While serving in Sofia as a military attache after years on the battlefield, he sought reassignment to the field. In 1915, he was appointed a division commander and proved his military mettle as a commander during World War I. He was nicknamed the “Hero of Anafartalar” after a decisive battle on the western front in Gallipoli. This feat later brought him wider recognition as a skilled commander and a trusted figure as he sought to rally the nation for independence in the aftermath of World War I. It was also his first brush with death, when a piece of shrapnel hit him in the chest but was stopped by a pocket watch he was carrying.
His next mission was on the eastern front in 1916, where he managed to stop the Russian incursion and reclaimed the eastern provinces of Bitlis and Muş from invading forces, a feat that helped secure his promotion to the rank of general. In the next two years, he served in Palestine and Syria as commander of the Seventh Army. After the war ended, he returned to Istanbul, the then capital of the Ottoman Empire, during a time when invading forces occupied the city, and secretly worked to organize a nationwide resistance. He found an opportunity to serve this purpose when he left the city as an “army inspector” under the guise of inspecting Ottoman troops scattered across the country. His arrival in the northern province of Samsun on May 19, 1919, is today viewed as the first step toward independence in postwar Türkiye. Once he drummed up the support of fellow commanders and the public during his travels across Anatolia, Atatürk started organizing a formal opposition to invading Allied forces through conventions in eastern and central Turkish cities. The conventions and congresses paved the way for the establishment of a temporary government independent of the Ottoman seat of power, which was then in its death throes, and a new Parliament firmly opposed to any foreign mandate. In 1920, he spearheaded the establishment of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and was elected as its president, as well as head of the interim government.
Under his leadership, an outnumbered army, with broad public support, was assembled and showed the world that a new country was rising from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. Victories in central and western Türkiye against invading Greek forces in defensive battles in 1921 cemented trust in Atatürk. He was soon promoted to the rank of marshal. In 1922, the army launched the Great Offensive, the first counterattack against invaders. Months after a decisive victory against the Greek army, a cease-fire agreement was signed with the Allied forces, paving the way for their withdrawal from Turkish territories. The Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923, officially marked the end of the conflict between invading forces and Türkiye. A few months after it was signed, Atatürk pronounced the formation of the Republic of Türkiye and was elected as its first president. He remained in this post until his death, being elected to four consecutive terms as president.
After the foundation of the Republic, Atatürk devoted his life to the reconstruction of a war-torn country, which was also tested by a global economic crisis, while establishing ties with countries against which Türkiye had once fought. His diplomatic and economic efforts made Türkiye an emerging country with a say in international affairs. On the domestic front, Atatürk is credited with revolutionary changes, including a switch to a new alphabet, a new education system, and vast legal, social and economic reforms.
Every year on Nov. 10, solemn ceremonies are held across the country and in the country’s diplomatic missions abroad to pay respects to Atatürk, who remains a beloved figure for millions and a leader whose name adorns many places in Türkiye. A remembrance tradition involves honking horns and sounding sirens at the exact time of his death, as people observe a minute of silence.
As part of this year’s ceremonies, Savarona, the yacht Atatürk spent about two months on before his death, was anchored off the coast of Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace. The yacht, restored a few years ago and now in service with the Turkish Naval Forces Command, hosted Atatürk for 56 days, during which the ailing leader continued governing the country and attending daily government affairs, from Cabinet meetings to hosting visiting foreign leaders. When his health deteriorated further, Atatürk had to disembark on July 25, 1938, and move to Dolmabahçe Palace. Savarona still houses Atatürk’s personal belongings, including his desk, slippers, towels, glasses and a bed cover stained with blood he spat during his illness, among other things.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to easing escalating tensions between Iran and the United States and advancing diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war during talks with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the COP31 Leaders Summit in Antalya.
The meeting focused on pressing regional and global challenges, including ongoing conflicts and international efforts to address climate change.
Erdoğan welcomed Türkiye’s role as host and president of COP31, saying preparations for the international climate conference had been completed.
He expressed hope that the gathering in Antalya would mark a turning point in efforts to tackle climate-related challenges and strengthen international cooperation.
Addressing mounting tensions between Tehran and Washington, Erdoğan said Türkiye was working closely with regional countries to prevent further escalation and promote solutions through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Turkish president also reiterated Ankara’s commitment to ending the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing Türkiye’s readiness to support a renewed diplomatic process aimed at securing peace.
Erdoğan and Guterres also exchanged views on the latest developments in Gaza, Cyprus and Libya, underscoring the broad range of regional crises on the international agenda.
Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders agreed to open two new crossing points on the divided island of Cyprus during U.N.-brokered talks in Lefkoşa, marking a step toward improving cooperation between the two communities.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides reached the agreement during a trilateral meeting mediated by Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, the U.N. secretary-general’s personal envoy for Cyprus.
The meeting, held at the residence of the U.N. chief of mission in the buffer zone in Lefkoşa, began at 11 a.m. and lasted approximately three hours and 15 minutes.
Following the talks, Holguin and U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus spokesperson Aleem Siddique presented a joint U.N. statement to reporters after the two leaders departed.
According to the statement, the leaders agreed to establish new crossing points connecting Akıncılar with Lympia and Gemikonağı with Kambos-Karavostasi.
Discussions on additional crossings will continue, while Erhürman and Christodoulides are also expected to hold another trilateral meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The U.N. described the discussions as taking place in a positive atmosphere, with both sides agreeing on further confidence-building measures.
The leaders agreed to relaunch the bicommunal Imagine education program under the supervision of the Technical Committee on Education, which will determine the framework for its implementation.
They also tasked the Technical Committee on Crisis Management with establishing a mechanism to ensure rapid responses to emergencies.
Additionally, the leaders agreed that the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage would begin restoration work on several Maronite churches and an Armenian monastery.
The agreements signal renewed efforts to strengthen practical cooperation between the island’s two communities amid continuing U.N.-facilitated dialogue.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations under-secretary-general for peace operations, says Türkiye plays an important role in training peacekeepers and the U.N. is looking forward to enhancing cooperation with the country in this field.
Lacroix spoke to Anadolu Agency (AA) in Türkiye, where he attended an international forum, months after his visit to Ankara, where he met Turkish officials on peacekeeping operations. He said Türkiye made double contributions to their operations, both as a trainer and by deploying peacekeeping troops.
He said the current conflicts across the world were more connected and had global consequences and to deal with them, the international community needed a collective approach. “Multilateralism is certainly of critical importance but member states need to exhibit a strong will and resolution to actively support the efforts for peace. Türkiye is among those countries demonstrating that will,” he said. Lacroix noted that every crisis also had actors working for peace, “a few countries with special influence,” and noted that Türkiye was among them as it was in the past.
He pointed out that conflicts today have become more complex than in the past, saying, “We also need to adapt our existing peace operations to current conditions and be prepared to establish new peace operations that are quite different from those created 50 to 60 years ago.” However, Lacroix said the most critical factor was not new models but the political will of member states, stressing the importance of providing the necessary financial resources as well. Lacroix said the U.N. system had previously succeeded in developing different types of peace operations and had the capacity to do so in the future.
Addressing questions over the effectiveness of U.N. peace operations, Lacroix said many countries, including Cambodia, East Timor, Angola, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia and El Salvador, had regained stability with the support of peace operations.
Lacroix also addressed attacks targeting U.N. peacekeeping personnel, saying that despite all the challenges, peacekeepers protect hundreds of thousands of civilians every day and help prevent cease-fires from collapsing.
Noting that the safety of peacekeeping personnel was frequently put at risk and that the obligation to protect them was being violated, Lacroix said such incidents required a strong response. “Crimes committed against peacekeeping personnel must be held to account,” Lacroix said.
Lacroix welcomed the adoption by the U.N. Security Council, following an initiative by Pakistan and Denmark, of a resolution calling for accountability for crimes committed against peacekeeping personnel. He added that peacekeepers serve the cause of peace and people, and therefore deserve to be respected.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Niger’s territorial integrity and security during a phone call with Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tchiani, pledging Ankara’s assistance in strengthening regional dialogue and stability.
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said in a statement.
Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye would continue taking steps to deepen cooperation with Niger across various sectors, underscoring Ankara’s commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries.
He also expressed Türkiye’s readiness to support efforts aimed at establishing and reinforcing regional dialogue mechanisms.
During the conversation, Erdoğan extended his condolences to Tchiani and the people of Niger over the death of the Nigerien leader’s father.
Türkiye increased the number of its embassies across Africa from 12 in 2002 to 44 by 2024, while the number of African embassies in Türkiye rose from 10 in 2008 to 38 in 2024.
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