Kılıçdaroğlu's plea to the government following the Syria and Adana attacks (24.11.2016)

The esteemed chair referred to reconciliation in politics in his speech. Probably one matter that we will all reach reconciliation over is terrorism. All political parties and civil society organisations must find a common denominator when it comes to terrorism, regardless of who or where it originates from.

Following every terror attack, we have made the insistent plea, “We are ready to give whatever you ask for to end terrorism.” I have said this countless times, because the people of this country are sick of sacrificing their offspring to terror. We want calm in our country.

If we look from the perspective of the past fourteen years, there was the PKK terrorist organisation, and, now, we are confronted by two more terrorist organisations. One of these is ISIL and the other the terrorist organisation known as the Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ). What has happened in Turkey over fourteen years for three terrorist organisations to appear? This is something we all need to think about. We for sure have our thoughts.

PLEA FOR COMMON SENSE

Turning to the Euphrates Shield Operation. There is news of our soldiers having been struck in an attack from Syrian government planes in an announcement made by the Chief of the General Staff. This could take us onto a very dangerous threshold. This could drag Turkey into a very dangerous process. There is nothing I can say apart from advising government officials from here to act with common sense.

Turkey acts as a fundamental balance in our region. I believe it to be very important to exercise common sense.

"I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FOLLOWING WORDS OF AL-MALIKI”

We the opposition have different ideas over foreign policy from the governing party. We say the action taken is wrong. Why are we sending arms that cause bloodshed in Syria? Why are we intervening in Iraq’s internal affairs? I once went to Iraq and spoke with Prime-Minister Al-Maliki. I will never forget the following words of his: “We are a separate country. Our flag is separate. We have a constitution. You regard Iraq as being a province of Turkey and interfere with us. We open motorways for you to come and you try to come in through the window. Why?”

“THAT IS NOT HOW YOU RUN A COUNTRY”

Had there been peace in those countries, it would have befallen Turkey to construct Iraq. It would have befallen Turkey to construct Syria. We have quarrelled with Egypt, Libya, Israel and Russia. That is not how you run a country.

“I WENT TO THE PALACE AFTER 15 JULY”

His honour the President spoke of reconciliation with reference to 15 July. Following the attempted coup of 15 July, in the speeches I made on the very next day, at rallies in both Izmir and Taksim, I underlined the importance of reconciliation. His honour the President invited me to the palace. To go or no to go was not an issue. I went.

I TOLD THEM THEY HAD DESTROYED THE MERIT SYSTEM

This is what I recommended to them. At the table were their honours the President and the Prime-Minister, Devlet Bahçeli, İbrahim Kalın and the presidential general secretary. I told them they had destroyed the merit system in this country. It is merit that makes the state the state. When I was an ordinary department head, I sat down and discussed things with the undersecretary I reported to, just as I did with the prime-minister when I was a minister. Yes, the final decision used to be made by the political mechanism, but we have to point out the plusses and minuses of the proposal set before us. You have dispensed with that and have eliminated civil servants who will voice a contrary opinion. There can be no state where there is no merit.

“I MADE A JOKE AND HE SAID ‘THAT’S NOT ON’”

Then I made a joke. I said, “Honoured President, the 15 July coup has benefitted me in one way. There was a plus for me following the 15 July coup in that I was invited onto a programme on state television for the first time in five years. Is this how to run a state?” His honour the President said, “That’s not on. That’s not how it should be.” But you all knew how it was. Programmes criticising me are to be aired out of my taxes and I am not to be invited. This is not how to run a country.