AKP spokesperson Çelik responds to the Mesut Özarslan question: Will he join the AKP?

Çelik held a press conference following the MYK meeting. The highlights from Çelik's remarks are as follows:

The earthquake region has recovered in a short period of time. It has been shown once again that even if our nation faces various disasters, it will never stumble, and our state will never be defeated. Of course, we do not forget those memories. Following that great pain, the state and the government carried out intensive activities from the very first moment to reach our citizens one by one. Similarly, the Turkish Armed Forces also tried to reach our lives there with intense effort from the first moment. In an environment where airports were damaged and village roads were closed, an extremely difficult struggle was waged and very large expenditures were made. Likewise, non-governmental organizations also went to the region one by one. It was seen once again that when we are one, we never abandon each other, anytime or anywhere. We set aside all kinds of separation and division and ensure this integration. Just like that day, this difficult struggle was waged in the strongest way today as well, and success was largely achieved.

ATTACK ON CHP

While dealing with the disaster on one hand, we were also fighting against disinformation and lies. Unfortunately, very cheap and sad incidents of theft and looting occurred. All of these were fought against together, and this struggle was successfully waged in front of the whole world. One of the saddest events on this anniversary was the tone used and the words spoken by CHP Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel. We have all witnessed Mr. Özgür Özel's tone, the speeches he made here, and his effort to ignore the facts. There, the discourse and mentality of the CHP administration were once again buried under the rubble on this anniversary. This was sad.

'THE WORLD IS FALLING APART'

We are going through a period where the world is falling apart, institutions are wearing out, institutions are disintegrating, and basic principles are eroding. I had also expressed this in our previous press conference. One of the greatest examples of this was that the picture that emerged at Davos, one of the platforms used to consolidate the world order and the basic ideology of neoliberal dominance in the world, became the focus of great criticism. While arguments, speeches, sessions, and conferences regarding how the new world order will be in the coming period and how the neoliberal order will maintain its own vitality usually come to the agenda in Davos, criticisms are voiced in countries called the global south. For the first time this year in Davos, the elites of the neoliberal order made statements, explanations, and analyses admitting that this order no longer works and is going wrong. Some of these led to discussions, some implicitly and some explicitly. It even became the cause of some diplomatic crises. Therefore, the age of uncertainty has been registered by everyone. While it was stated that the known problems of the order were somehow managed or tolerated, it has also been seen that it has now become intolerable.

GAZA MESSAGE

The entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza has not reached the desired level. Many extensions of the genocide activity are still continuing. The ceasefire is extremely fragile. There are major obstacles from the genocide network in walking the path towards the establishment of a Palestinian state that will ensure permanent peace. Therefore, the surrender and double standards of the international community, international law, principles, and institutions in the face of Gaza have shown that the period we describe as the age of uncertainty has now become completely clear. We will continue our struggle regarding Gaza strongly without any interruption. While all these disintegrations are taking place, beyond the tensions between the North and the Global South or between the Western alliance and others, conflicts and tensions are emerging within the Western alliance itself. Viewed in this framework, the only approach that carries out strong activities in terms of international dialogue and integration and makes a sound in the international arena is the approach of our President.

When looking at our President's diplomacy traffic and international visits, it is seen that he demonstrates a strong will to increase dialogues and ensure greater rapprochement for the resolution of many crisis areas. Most recently, visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt were carried out, followed by planned visits to the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, and the visit of the King of Jordan and the visit of the Greek Prime Minister came to the agenda this week. From Sudan to Somalia, from the Horn of Africa to the Russia-Ukraine War and the activities carried out against the genocide in Gaza, Turkey is the only country that can put forward a certain framework and operate in this direction in an environment where the world's seams are practically coming undone, and our President is the only leader.

SYRIA AND 'TERROR-FREE TURKEY'

Although there are discourses trying to take shape around maximalist approaches, there is a progression of the goal of a terror-free Turkey and a terror-free region within the framework of the principles we have put forward. In this regard, disinformation, maximalist approaches, extreme discourses trying to go beyond the framework, and some wrong approaches or racist discourses aimed at making us lose our focus, that is, diluting the goal of the dissolution and disarmament of the terrorist organization, can emerge from time to time. Necessary answers are given to these where necessary, but we will not lose our focus, and we will not allow manipulation and provocation to turn us back from our path.

While our President was addressing the issue of Syria, he once again evaluated the importance he attaches to stability in Syria and the value that the understanding of a single nation and a single army carries for the country. He stated that with the elimination of the activities of the terrorist organization based in northeastern Syria, the process of a terror-free Turkey and a terror-free region has been freed from an important obstacle, and that in the coming period, Syria will continue on its path within a framework where Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmens are common winners in unity and integrity.

SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION FOR UNDER 15S

Dear friends, another important topic discussed in the world, along with recent agendas, is the issue of social media. We are conducting a study on social media, and our President draws attention to this issue in many of his speeches, both to protect generations, to resist disinformation, and to protect our cyber sovereignty, which has now become a part of national sovereignty. Interestingly, loud and remarkable statements are coming from the West on this issue today. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez's statement that they stand on the right side of history regarding Palestine, and that they will stand on the right side of history again by fighting with reason and democracy so that technology oligarchs take their hands off our children's mobile phones, is an example of this. There are many activities that these technology oligarchs carry out through algorithms, from distorting children's gender perceptions to interfering in elections in various countries, and our President has been drawing attention to this for a long time. It is also clearly seen that after these manipulations, many data and information are used to manipulate the national sovereignty of countries, infiltrate their sovereign areas, and direct their elections. While children are being haunted on one hand, the sovereign areas of countries are being interfered with on the other. We must all show a strong resistance against this together because these are things that must be done not to restrict freedom, but to protect our freedom. It is stated that strong legal measures should be brought to the agenda for the protection of children under 16, from France to other countries. Therefore, it is clear that we need to be more sensitive about this issue to protect our freedom, our sovereignty, and our children. Turkey will continue a determined struggle to protect its sovereignty in the cyber field, and in this framework, we will handle the social media law with the understanding of protecting our freedom and creating a barrier against the aggression of technology oligarchs to manage everything.

EXPECTATION OF ATTACK ON IRAN

The issue regarding Iran is also a topic that we need to follow closely. Negotiations have begun, and we evaluate that solving problems through these negotiations is extremely important. An intervention to be made to Iran from the outside is based on wrong analyses. There are problems in the political and social field in Iran, but the Iranian society should solve these with its own dynamics. We do not estimate that an intervention will lead to very great instabilities, creating very serious problems from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, from certain regions of Asia to the Caucasus; we clearly know and see this. Therefore, the option of external intervention, especially the option of military intervention, should not be brought to the agenda in any way. Of course, the nuclear file is on the agenda, the ballistic missile issue is on the agenda, and Iran's regional policies are on the agenda, but handling all of these in a single bag does not lead to a result. Here, it is necessary to use the possibilities and capabilities of negotiation correctly. It is beneficial to proceed by handling these files one by one and solving them one by one, and it is extremely important to stay away from any option of external intervention.

HATE SPEECH AGAINST ZEYNEP GÜNEŞ

It is a hate speech made by an insolent person towards our Eskişehir Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Hanım. This expression directed at a mayor who has been elected many times by the votes of our citizens and has deserved this duty is truly a despicable discourse. First of all, I would like to express that the common reaction shown by our citizens from all segments of society and all views against this hate speech is extremely meaningful and valuable. I would especially like to emphasize that it is extremely valuable for our female citizens from all segments of society to stand up against this hate speech and support our mayor. The fact that statements containing common sensitivity have been made from different political parties shows that a national consensus has been formed on standing against hate politics. There were allegations that this person was an IYI Party member, and from the very first moment, party officials made a very quick decision regarding referral to discipline and expulsion. Chairman Mr. Müsavat Dervişoğlu made a very clear statement, expressing that they find this hate speech despicable and that they reject it institutionally as a party. All of these statements are extremely valuable. We thank our citizens from every party and every view, political party chairmen, and representatives who display this stance once again from here. However, the biggest thanks go to the sensitivity of our female citizens from different views who display common sensitivity.

RESIGNATION OF MESUT ÖZARSLAN

(Question: It is being talked about that Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan, who resigned from the CHP, will join the AK Party; is this claim true? If it is true, will there be other mayors who will join?) Ömer Çelik: The expressions used by the Chairman of the Republican People's Party are a scandal that has no equal in Turkish political life. It is truly both a sad and shameful situation for a chairman to use such abusive expressions towards a mayor in his own party or to say such words towards anyone. For those who reveal this picture, there is, of course, a gravity that needs to be evaluated separately. How the Republican People's Party comes to this state, how it falls into such a drift and poverty of level, is a question that all our nation will evaluate, just as the citizens who have given their hearts to the Republican People's Party should evaluate. When they take the podium, they talk about democracy, law, and political dialogue, and express that the level of politics should be raised. However, the picture experienced here is at a point that cannot even be defined by the concept of low level; there is practically no level. For this reason, even talking about this issue is shameful in itself. (Will he join the AK Party?) There is no such agenda.

News Source: 12punto