BUDAPEST

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus on Tuesday said that establishing a fully sovereign Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders is essential for peace in the Middle East.

"A Palestinian state with full sovereignty and territorial integrity is the gateway to peace in the Middle East. Until that door is opened, peace will not come to the region," Kurtulmus said during the inauguration of a new Maarif school building in Budapest alongside Laszlo Kover, his Hungarian counterpart.

Kurtulmus also expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the school’s construction and to the Hungarian government officials who facilitated its opening.

Highlighting that Türkiye and Hungary are two nations with deep historical roots, significant similarities, and shared ancestry, he said: “In fact, Hungarians and Turks are cousins. Therefore, the opening of this beautiful educational institution, which also symbolizes the coming together of two branches of the same nation represented today as two separate states, is a source of pride for us."

He emphasized that Türkiye's Maarif (education) Foundation, which serves nearly 70,000 students across Asia, Africa, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and around the world, is a major cultural diplomacy institution contributing to global education. He added: "We are proud that such an institution serves the children of the Hungarian nation in our friendly and brotherly Hungary.”

On Türkiye’s culture and language institute, named after esteemed poet Yunus Emre, he added: “I would also like to emphasize the importance of Türkiye’s other cultural diplomacy institutions in Hungary. One of them is our Yunus Emre Institute. Once the restoration of its current historic building is completed, it will carry out significant work in promoting and teaching the Turkish language and culture to the Hungarian people.

“Another institution is our Directorate of Turks Abroad and Related Communities, which provides scholarships to support the education of Hungarian youth, enabling many to study at Turkish universities. Through these cultural diplomacy institutions, we will continue to expand our services in Hungary. I firmly believe this school will become an important institution that enables Hungarian youth to receive a strong education and stands as a symbol of Turkish-Hungarian friendship."  

'Hungary is the outpost of the 300-million-strong Organization of Turkic States'

Kurtulmus noted that Türkiye and Hungary enjoy rare, friendly, close, and sincere relations, which they strengthen across all fields, and he stated that parliamentary ties will continue to complement government-level relations.

Drawing attention to Türkiye being the center of the Organization of Turkic States in Anatolia and Hungary serving as its center in Europe, Kurtulmus said: "Spanning from Central Asia to the Caucasus, Türkiye, the Anatolian continent, the Balkans, and Europe, the Organization of Turkic States represents a population of approximately 300 million and occupies the world’s most strategic position between Asia and Europe. I believe it will become one of the key centers of peace, stability, friendship, and development – especially in today’s world, where global balances are severely disrupted. From this perspective, Hungary serves as the outpost, frontier, and cultural and political hub of the 300-million-strong Organization of Turkic States. Therefore, I would like to stress that we attach exceptional importance to Hungary for both Türkiye’s and the Turkic states’ friendship."

Kurtulmus underlined Hungary’s consistent support for Türkiye on every platform, both during its recent European Union Presidency and in preceding periods, standing by Türkiye even during its EU accession when the country faced "significant double standards."

He added that the world is moving toward a period marked by the establishment of a new global order, dominated by tensions, conflicts, major struggles, and regional and global wars, saying: "We are living in a time when those in power try to impose the rules themselves. Consequently, conflicts unfortunately persist worldwide."  

 'Defending the Palestinian state’s sovereign rights is both our brotherly and humanitarian duty'

The Turkish parliament speaker decried the Ukraine-Russia war as one of the region’s most critical conflict zones, noting that hundreds of thousands have lost their lives, cities have been destroyed, and both countries have suffered enormous financial losses.

He emphasized that Türkiye has consistently viewed ending the conflict swiftly and ensuring a fair and lasting peace as vital for both regional and global stability. "Through our neutral mediation role, we reached a preliminary agreement between the two countries. Unfortunately, just before a final agreement could be reached in March 2022, the war continued because some nations opposed it," he said, referring to an Istanbul meeting soon after the start of the war.

"Now, our hope is that a lasting and fair peace will be achieved between Ukraine and Russia, and that these dark clouds over Europe will be dispelled as soon as possible."

About Israel’s war on Gaza and the ongoing genocide, Kurtulmus stated that it must end immediately. "We believe that establishing a fair and lasting peace and enabling Palestinians to reclaim their rightful lands will be the most crucial step for both Middle East peace and global peace."

He affirmed that his country will continue to represent the innocent and oppressed Palestinian people on all platforms. "The establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with territorial integrity within the pre-1967 borders is the gateway to peace in the Middle East. Peace will not come to the Middle East until that door is opened. Therefore, defending the rights of the innocent Palestinian people and the sovereign rights of the Palestinian state to the fullest is both our brotherly and humanitarian duty," he added.  

'Both countries are looking toward the future, not the past'

Kurtulmus stated that they will continue to foster and expand relations between Türkiye and Hungary, providing examples of shared values.

He said that the Gul Baba Tomb in Budapest is not just a historical site, expressing his hope that the atmosphere of friendship, brotherhood, peace, and humanity promoted by the sixteenth-century Ottoman poet will prevail across Hungary and the broader region.

He added that the tomb should serve as a monumental reminder of human values in the capital for generations to come.

Kurtulmus noted that the traces of the Ottoman Empire in the Galicia Martyrs’ Cemetery, Esztergom, and Visegrad not only commemorate historical events but also exemplify current Turkish-Hungarian friendship.

Emphasizing the strong similarities between the Turkish community in Hungary and the Turkish community in Anatolia, Kurtulmus continued: "First and foremost, I want to highlight that we are two nations deeply committed to family values. Likewise, we are two nations that uphold our beliefs, traditions, and cultural values, making every effort to preserve and continue them. Both countries look toward the future rather than dwelling on the past. Both peoples act according to the principle of building on the past to move confidently toward the future. I hope that the cultural wealth we have accumulated throughout history will continue to support us, and that Türkiye and Hungary will work hand in hand, heart to heart, toward a stronger tomorrow."

During the ceremony, a student choir performed the national anthems of both countries.

Following the speeches, students presented folk dances and sang songs in Turkish and Hungarian.  

Kurtulmus received by Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok

Kurtulmus and his delegation were also received by Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok on Tuesday at the Sandor Palace.

During the meeting, Kurtulmus pointed to the historic friendship and ties of brotherhood between Türkiye and Hungary and expressed satisfaction with the recent strengthening of relations between the two countries.

Kurtulmus said a memorandum of understanding that was signed on Monday will help further strengthen the bilateral bonds.

He expressed great appreciation for Hungary’s support for Türkiye during its EU Presidency in the second half of 2024 and voiced satisfaction with the adoption of joint approaches to global and regional challenges.

Kurtulmus underlined that the countries share common views on the need for a just and lasting peace to eliminate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Europe.

Highlighting the importance of cooperation in the fields of defense industry, energy, and connectivity, Kurtulmus stressed Türkiye’s determination to continue and expand collaboration with Hungary in all areas.

He added that the Türkiye-Hungary 2025 Science and Innovation Year would contribute to the development of both countries in the fields of science and technology, noting that this initiative would further increase scientific exchanges.

On Gaza, Kurtulmus said the situation amounts to one of the gravest genocides of modern times and underscored the need to put an end to this disgrace for humanity.

He reiterated that there is no alternative to a two-state solution in the Palestinian issue, stressing that if Israel wishes to exist securely in the Middle East, it must accept the existence of a sovereign Palestinian state.