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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye was moving to end a terrorism problem that has caused suffering for four decades, pledging to leave future generations a "terror-free Türkiye" and a "terror-free region."
Speaking at the AK Party's 25th anniversary program at Baskent Millet Bahcesi in Ankara, Erdogan said the People's Alliance was working to resolve the issue completely.
"We said, 'We will solve the terrorism problem.' As the People's Alliance, we are freeing Türkiye from this 40-year problem," Erdogan said.
He said Türkiye's greatest strength was national solidarity and argued that preserving unity would strengthen the country.
"This country will grow through brotherhood, and brotherhood will make it stronger," Erdogan said, adding that Türkiye would make the 21st century the "Türkiye Century."
Erdogan said the government's actions were intended to ensure that future generations would not face terrorism.
"Whatever we are doing, we are doing it to completely solve this issue and leave our children a terror-free Türkiye and a terror-free region," he said.
Erdogan argued that ending terrorism would also disrupt what he described as an "imperialist plan" aimed at destabilizing Türkiye.
"We are not only ending the terrorism problem. God willing, together with terrorism, we are also overturning that imperialist plan that seeks to stir up Türkiye," he said.
He said those who benefited from continued instability would be unhappy with terrorism coming to an end.
"Who would be saddened by the end of terrorism? Those who have plans concerning Türkiye would be saddened. Those who benefit from this wound bleeding for another 40 years would be saddened," Erdogan said.
He added that Türkiye should reach a point where mothers no longer mourn, young people no longer die, children are not orphaned, spouses are not widowed and the country's energy is not wasted.
Erdogan also referred to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, or FETO, saying the country had faced the group as a growing problem since the 1970s.
He said successive governments had failed to stop its expansion and referred to military interventions in 1980 and 1997.
"FETO was not touched; on the contrary, its path was opened," Erdogan said.
He said that by the time his government took office, the organization had spread through state institutions "like a virus" and had nearly paralyzed the system.
Erdogan said his government moved against FETO "with patience, intelligence and caution" and referred to the failed coup attempt, saying the group was not given the opportunity to succeed.
He also said terrorism had caused deaths and damage since 1984, costing Türkiye young people, accumulated resources, morale and aspirations.
"We said, 'We will solve it.' We said, 'We will save Türkiye from this 40-year problem,'" Erdogan said.
He accused some groups of trying to create confusion and fear because they would lose the ability to exploit the issue once the "terrorism chapter" was closed.
Erdogan also pointed to changes in Türkiye's defense and energy capabilities during AK Party governments.
He said a country that once imported even infantry rifles now produces its own warships, unmanned aircraft, helicopters, tanks, missiles and submarines.
Erdogan said Türkiye was producing 83,000 barrels of oil per day in Gabar, an area he said was previously affected by terrorism.
He also cited Türkiye's Black Sea natural gas discovery, saying domestically produced gas was now being used in millions of homes.
Erdogan pointed to Türkiye's domestically produced Togg vehicle as another example of industrial progress.
He said Türkiye was entering a new period in which national unity was gaining strength and the "Türkiye Century" was beginning.
"Türkiye is now rising," Erdogan said. "Our brotherhood is gaining meaning again, our strength is increasing, history is being rewritten."
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