The Turkish Armed Forces' mandate in Iraq and Syria has been extended for another three years.

During the discussions at the Turkish Grand National Assembly General Assembly regarding the Presidential motion to extend the duration of the mandate to send troops to Iraq and Syria for another three years, New Path Group Ankara Deputy İdris Şahin said the following:

The instability experienced in our neighbors, Iraq and Syria, is a direct consequence of not only these countries' but also our national security. Terrorist organizations such as the PKK, PYD, YPG, and ISIS continue to exist and attempt to establish safe zones just beyond our borders. It is absolutely essential for Türkiye to maintain a deterrent stance against these threats and take the necessary steps within the framework of international law. Stability can be achieved not only through arms, but through dialogue and cooperation. Turkey should be at the center of regional solution processes, both in its peacekeeping missions and through its diplomacy at the negotiating table. However, the sustainability of this vision is only possible if decision-making processes are conducted on democratic grounds. Parliamentary approval and oversight are not merely a procedure; they guarantee the democratic credibility of the Republic of Turkey. Transparency and accountability in the motion processes strengthen the legitimacy of our security.

ŞAHİN: WE DO NOT FIND A 3-YEAR LICENSE, AS IF WE ARE Snatching Goods From A Fire, WILL BE RIGHT

Şahin reacted to the three-year duration of the mandate and continued his speech as follows:

There was no such thing in the tradition of our Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Is it so difficult to run the Grand National Assembly of Turkey that you pass two- or three-year mandates here? However, the essence of mandates is the fact that the government has the power to renew them in Parliament every year. Your numerical majority can pass these mandates annually by debating them. Don't you have any confidence in yourself? Is there a belief that the mandate you bring next year won't pass? So, who are you smuggling, and what are you smuggling? For God's sake, what is a three-year mandate? We certainly must demonstrate the power of the Republic of Turkey in Syria and Iraq because we all see the threat posed to Türkiye in Syria and Iraq. There's no doubt about that, but we don't think it's right that a three-year mandate was debated in this Parliament, as if we were trying to save something from a fire.

ERGUN: OUR 'YES' IS THE WILL TO PRESERVE THE LEGITIMACY OF THE STATE

İYİ Party Muğla Deputy Metin Ergun made the following statement:

As the İYİ Party, we support Turkish foreign policy, provided that it remains faithful to the state's founding philosophy, that is, the rational line drawn by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Foreign policy should be shaped solely around national interests, free from adventure-seeking, emotional reactions, and ideological deviations. The powers requested through mandates should be part of this grand and historic vision. Our "yes" is support for the fight against terrorism, but it does not constitute consent to arbitrariness, lack of foresight, or the bypassing of institutions. Our "yes" is the will to protect the legitimacy of the state, the will of Parliament, and the rule of law.

If the goal of completely eliminating or containing the terrorist threat identified in the previous mandate had been achieved, there would be no new request for authority today. This situation points to a cycle of failure that demonstrates the government's inability to produce lasting and result-oriented solutions in regional policies. The fact that the authority, which was requested for one or two years in previous years, now covers a three-year period cannot be seen as merely a change in administrative timeframe. "Three years" means the suspension of this Assembly's right to speak for three years; this demonstrates the executive's lack of confidence in the Assembly. The government must provide a satisfactory explanation to our nation regarding the strategic rationale and long-term planning behind this three-year extension. Our nation must understand the difference this period will make in the fight against terrorism. This period should not simply mean postponing the granting of authority; it should be used to achieve concrete and measurable goals. Therefore, as the İYİ Party, we also include our reservations when we say 'yes' to this term.

OLUÇ: THE EMERGING PICTURE IS AN UNSTABLE FOREIGN POLICY

DEM Party Antalya Deputy Saruhan Oluç said:

We are living in times where we see that it is impossible to extinguish fire with fire, that every pain calls forth new pain and that the lives of the peoples of the Middle East are being targeted. We believe that the best way to establish peace in this region is to base ourselves on democratic and peaceful politics. We stand for peaceful coexistence among peoples in the Middle East, not violence and death. We believe that establishing a democratic and peaceful life in these lands is a more pressing necessity than ever. I want to emphasize that we will vote against the motion that does not incorporate this understanding. We must focus on political and diplomatic solutions, not military ones. For years, we have said, "Diplomacy and dialogue are needed." We have said, "It is essential to establish good economic, commercial, cultural, and political relations with all the peoples living in Syria—Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmens." We continue to hold the same views today.

We are discussing not only the mandate but also the government's foreign policy. Looking at the last 14 years, the picture that emerges is one of unstable foreign policy. The main reason for this is that for years, diplomacy and negotiations have been replaced by displays of military force in foreign policy. Unfortunately, with this mandate, we are witnessing the continuation of this same mindset. This government has the consistency to make mistakes in foreign policy. We must decide together and through negotiations on the future of the Syrian people and the new social contract of the democratic Syrian regime, based on equality. Negotiation is the only valid path.

TAN: HE SHOWED THAT HE DID NOT DESERVE SUCH SUPPORT

CHP Istanbul Deputy Namık Tan made the following statement:

We repeatedly asked the government what Türkiye had achieved in the fight against terrorism by 2021, but received no answer. Our soldiers were in the line of fire for years and suffered painful losses. Even if you try to make us forget, we do not forget that ISIS terrorists burned two of our soldiers alive and shared the footage of this incident with the entire world. We also have not forgotten that Russia martyred 36 of our soldiers in early 2020, that you did not even name Russia to criticize your decision to purchase the S-400s, that you blamed the Assad administration for this, and yet you failed to take the slightest action against either Russia or Assad. After all these events, we have withdrawn the conditional support we provided to you. As the CHP, we will provide you with the greatest support when we are convinced that the fight against terrorism in Türkiye is being conducted properly, in accordance with our constitution and international law, but above all, rationally. However, the AKP government has demonstrated that it does not deserve such support by constantly managing this fight for its own political gain, like a clog cutter.

"IF THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO IMRALI TODAY, WHY WILL THE TAF GO TO IRAQ AND SYRIA?

Drawing attention to the National Unity, Solidarity and Democracy Commission established in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Tan continued his speech as follows:

If the commission is going to Imrali today, why would the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) go to Iraq and Syria? If the TSK is going to continue its open-ended deployment of military operations in Iraq and Syria, what purpose does the commission have in going to the island? Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acts as if there is no ongoing process. He doesn't hold back from threatening the YPG that Türkiye could launch a new military operation at any time. If the PKK is truly on the path to disbanding itself by surrendering its weapons, and if the SDF has reached an agreement with Damascus to join the new Syrian army, who will we be operating against using this Iraq and Syria mandate? Who, which group, which organization do you want support to fight in these two countries?

Source: ANKA