Breaking News... Erdoğan to Özel: Oh my, what has my country come to

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Heads of State and Government Summit held in Tianjin, China.

Following his contacts there, Erdoğan set off for his return to the country. Answering journalists' questions on the plane, Erdoğan spoke about the summit and current issues.

Erdoğan noted that the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) as part of the new resolution process called Terror-Free Turkey, continues its work. Stating that he had a phone conversation with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Erdoğan said, "We have sincerely brought these rounds to a certain point. They will continue the subsequent process with the same determination. I believe that in the end, Turkey will eliminate a 40-year-old problem and walk into the future as one and whole. In such a matter concerning Turkey's future, it is best to focus on statements made and to be made with state seriousness, rather than on rumors and hearsay. We have clearly determined our roadmap and our destination. The resources allocated to the fight against terrorism will now be spent on development, production, investment, and employment. The winner of a Terror-Free Turkey will be all of Turkey, and the winner of a terror-free region will be all the brotherly peoples in our region."

Erdoğan reacted to CHP leader Özgür Özel's statement in Sinop that 'missile tests negatively affect fishing and tourism, and that fish are startled and abandoning their nests,' arguing that the opposition problem in Turkey cannot be solved.

Erdoğan stated the following:

"As you know, we are conducting test firings of our medium-range missiles developed by ROKETSAN and Delta V in Sinop. These are the medium-range missiles that Turkey can currently develop. As you know, we also have work in different geographies for longer-range missiles. But for now, we will continue to conduct these tests for Turkey's independence. Meanwhile, fishing in Sinop has grown 5-fold in 3-4 years. The fishermen of Sinop have no problems. Sinop fishermen are exporting Turkish salmon to Japan. Therefore, I think Mr. Özgür is unaware of the missiles, the development of fishing in Sinop, or tourism. He made a statement saying 'the fish are getting stressed.' Oh my, what has my country come to. But we will overcome these.

As I always say, the chronic opposition problem in Turkey has not been solved. We are in a situation where we cannot even speak of a hope for a solution. What problem has the CHP been able to provide a remedy for until today that it could be a remedy for the opposition problem? Can a political party that cannot even provide solutions to its own internal party issues be a remedy for the nation's problems, for God's sake? The pitiful state of the local administrations they won by saying 'we will serve the nation' is a trailer of their management approach. They do not know how to serve; they only know how to fight."

Erdoğan's statements and the Q&A session are as follows:

Distinguished members of the press, valuable friends, I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings and affection. As the guest of honor of Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping, we participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. Our participation in the summit is a sign of the importance we attach to our relations with both the organization and the Asian countries with which we have deep-rooted ties. These figures are quite remarkable; the population of the 10 member countries of the organization has reached 3.8 billion, and its economic size is approaching 30 trillion dollars. We see that the organization has been in a dynamic transformation since 1996. It is gaining an identity by bringing cooperation in economic and commercial fields to the forefront. The organization has also adopted the motto of playing a role in the resolution of global and regional problems. The principles listed under the title of 'Shanghai Spirit' such as 'equality', 'consultation', 'mutual trust and benefit', 'respect for differences', and 'common development' also overlap with the basic approaches of our 'Re-Asia' Initiative, which we announced in 2019. We are among the countries that make the most effort for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in our region. In this respect, I find the organization's efforts to increase contact with dialogue partners, including our country, to be accurate.

Distinguished members of the press, at the summit, we addressed our country's tradition of multilateral diplomacy, regional security, and our sustainable development policy. In my speech, I brought up the genocide in Gaza. I had a productive meeting with my dear friend, Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping, on the first day, which our delegations also attended. During the meeting, we discussed bilateral relations and investment issues. We want to make our economic relations with China, our trading partner, more balanced and sustainable. We continue our consultations with the Chinese side. We had a productive meeting in this vein with Mr. Cai Qi, Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and his delegation. My Minister of Foreign Affairs will attend the commemoration program to be held on September 3. In addition to Mr. Xi, I met with many of my counterparts throughout the summit. We discussed the issues on our agenda with Pakistan Prime Minister Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, Azerbaijan President Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Armenia Prime Minister Mr. Nikol Pashinyan, Russian Federation President Mr. Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian, respectively. We also had contacts with many other heads of state and government who attended the summit. In these meetings, we evaluated Israel's attacks on Palestine along with bilateral cooperation issues. I wish for our visit to be auspicious, and now I leave the floor to you.

QUESTION - In your article published in the People's Daily, you used the phrase 'While going through strange times' by referring to a Chinese proverb. What kind of approach does Chinese President Xi Jinping have regarding the unimaginable lawlessness in our geography and the locked international community? Is Beijing, the locomotive of the East, aware of the role and potential of Turkey, a NATO member and a country integrated with the West, in the goal of the world's 'normalization'?

China is aware of Turkey's regional importance and influence. For this reason, it sees Turkey as an important actor. We are striving to improve our relations with China. We are evaluating cooperation opportunities in many fields from economic relations to digital technologies, from energy to health. We do not look at the world only on the East-West axis. We are not a country whose horizon is frozen in the frost of the Cold War. We constantly say that it is necessary to build new bridges, not to separate, between the East and the West. We defend our human-centered policies on every platform. And we will continue to defend them. In a world where international systems are clogged, we believe that normalization can only be achieved with solutions based on equity. We learn from the past, read the future correctly, and move forward on our path with this vision. We believe in the importance of keeping dialogue channels open. We think that a fair and prosperous world can be built. As a matter of fact, when we say 'a fairer world is possible', we have always insisted on this, and we continue to do so. We are also striving to continue on our path in this direction. We expect China, as an important part of the international community, to support this effort of ours.

QUESTION - In your meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which topics came to the fore regarding the recent global developments? In the context of the Ukraine war, energy cooperation, defense industry, and balance policies in the Black Sea, can we define this meeting as a 'period of closer cooperation in bilateral relations'? What is Mr. Putin's approach regarding a four-party summit, especially in Istanbul, for peace in Ukraine? What is Russia's stance on Gaza, was this issue brought up in the meeting?

In our bilateral meeting with Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin, we discussed what can be done to end the Ukraine-Russia war with a just peace. Cooperation in the field of energy was a topic we discussed in this meeting in particular. As Turkey, from the very beginning, we have always discussed that the Ukraine-Russia war can be ended through negotiations. The negotiations that took place in Istanbul are the clearest proof that this path is open. Gradually raising the level of negotiations is a path we desire. We need to turn the hope for peace into solution-oriented and concrete results. For this, we have to handle this matter at the leaders' level. We evaluated what results Mr. Putin returned with from the last Alaska summit and what he thought about those meetings. His meeting with US President Mr. Donald Trump was very important. Just as we received Mr. Putin's thoughts on these issues, we also had some meetings with Ukrainian President Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy through the method of telephone diplomacy. In those contacts we had with him, we had the opportunity to see Mr. Zelenskyy's perspective on Mr. Putin. We also had the opportunity to re-evaluate the results of the Alaska summit. I found the approaches of both Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Putin positive. When we said, 'There could be an initiative in Turkey towards the continuation of the Istanbul process,' he was at the point of 'why not' regarding this issue. However, they are not ready for this yet.

QUESTION - Following the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a debate was opened once again in Europe that 'the Continent has no geopolitical role left.' Do you think so too, how is Turkey's geostrategic identity affected by this situation? What is the effect of this situation on Turkey's geopolitical identity?

Mr. Trump held meetings with the parties to the Ukraine-Russia war. He held contacts with both Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders. These meetings are reasonable, acceptable, and a valuable strategy. Only peace-oriented dialogue can end the Ukraine-Russia War. We also held meetings with the parties to the Ukraine-Russia war, especially Mr. Trump, on this issue. We are in constant contact with Mr. Putin, Mr. Zelenskyy, and European leaders. My Minister of Foreign Affairs and my Head of Intelligence are holding the necessary meetings with their counterparts. These meetings also constantly accelerate this process. We are a country that has developed and strengthened the ground for dialogue with direct negotiations held in Istanbul. As you know, we had achieved concrete outputs with the grain corridor and prisoner exchanges. This is actually the most correct approach. We do not intend to abandon this either. We are taking steps regarding the continuation of this process, and we will continue to do so. In every meeting I have with Mr. Putin, I always keep the grain corridor and prisoner exchange issues on the agenda. And I will continue to keep them. Our wish is to get a result from here. A just and lasting peace will come by strengthening the ground for negotiation without excluding the parties. Since the very beginning of the war, Turkey has been an example with its characteristics of being able to talk to both sides and having gained the trust of both sides. If we all prioritize negotiation instead of conflict, and peace instead of war, we will open the window of opportunity that has been left ajar wide open.

QUESTION - The US State Department's cancellation of the visas of Mahmoud Abbas and 80 Palestinian officials means they cannot attend the United Nations General Assembly. Many countries are preparing to recognize Palestine as a state. What kind of UN General Assembly will we see?

America's decision does not align with the reason for the UN's existence. We are of the opinion that the decision should be reviewed as soon as possible. The United Nations General Assembly exists for the discussion of issues on the world and the production of solutions. The absence of the Palestinian delegation at the General Assembly only pleases Israel. This United Nations General Assembly, in my opinion, is a General Assembly whose content and participants have not yet been finalized. I wanted to have a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on this issue, unfortunately, neither he nor I could find the opportunity. We want to evaluate how we will hold this United Nations General Assembly through telephone diplomacy until the date of the General Assembly. I also want to learn the UN Secretary-General's thoughts on this issue. Because these developments are not sudden developments. There are victims in Palestine. And there are those who watch this oppression with bleeding hearts. There are tens of thousands of oppressed people, there are victims. We need to take steps to protect their rights and laws. Since October 7, there have been over 60 thousand martyrs and over 150 thousand wounded in Gaza. From time to time, wounded people are sent to our country. We are mobilized on this issue. First of all, Israel's genocide will never be forgotten. Mothers and fathers who have a conscience will never forget how babies, mothers, and fathers were massacred in Palestine. It is not right for Palestine's voice to be muffled. It is not possible to muffle or silence this voice. What is expected from America is to say 'stop' to Israel's massacres and oppressions. Many countries, including some European countries, are preparing to recognize Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly. The Palestinian issue will likely mark this year's UN General Assembly. I suppose this poor soul will be one of those who leave this mark. Even if Palestinian officials do not attend the UN General Assembly meeting, the voice of the oppressed Palestinians will echo there. As Sezai Karakoç, may he rest in peace, said, 'If we remain silent, history will not remain silent. If history remains silent, the truth will not remain silent.'

QUESTION - Your words, 'Those who turn their direction to Ankara and Damascus will win, those who lose their way and look for new bosses for themselves will lose,' created great anxiety in Israel. They made statements targeting you and Turkey. Is Israel trying to sabotage the national solidarity and brotherhood process continuing in Turkey with the steps it will take through the YPG in Syria? Is it Israel that prevents the YPG from joining the Syrian army despite the agreement?

We want permanent prosperity and peace to be ensured in our neighbor Syria, and we care about its unity and solidarity. Recent history has shown that the unrest in Syria reflects on us the most. We need to see this. Neither we nor the Damascus administration would consent to those who want to create chaos in Syrian territory. We want Syria to be one and whole with all its colors and to remain so. Syrian President Ahmed Shara and his administration think like us. However, as in all geographies that have experienced such a long war, there are many, many people who want to create chaos in Syria. It is known who they are. That is why we will not leave Syria alone. We will always stand by them. I hope no one will be able to prevent Syria from standing up again. The war barons who invest in chaos will lose this time. The Syrian people, regardless of whether they are Arab, Kurd, Turkmen, Nusayri, Sunni, or Christian, will win. I also want to express this very clearly; whoever tries to sabotage this process will pay the price. Wherever Kurds live, they are our brothers. No one can separate us from each other. No one can set an ambush for our eternal brotherhood. We are determined, we are resolute. Just as flesh cannot be separated from bone, our brotherhood is inseparable. If one acts with foresight, wisdom, and common sense, every problem is solved. But if there is no good intention, even the simplest issues become a Gordian knot. We are in favor of strengthening the environment of peace and tranquility, and we will continue to work for this.

QUESTION - After the terrorist organization PKK's decision to dissolve and lay down arms, what concrete step will the commission established in Parliament as part of the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process take first? There are some debates in this direction. Will there be legal regulations in the commission? What is your expectation in the first stage?

The National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey continues its work with broad participation. I had a phone conversation with our Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş regarding the commission's work. We have sincerely brought these rounds to a certain point. They will continue the subsequent process with the same determination. I believe that in the end, Turkey will eliminate a 40-year-old problem and walk into the future as one and whole. In such a matter concerning Turkey's future, it is best to focus on statements made and to be made with state seriousness, rather than on rumors and hearsay. We have clearly determined our roadmap and our destination. The resources allocated to the fight against terrorism will now be spent on development, production, investment, and employment. The winner of a Terror-Free Turkey will be all of Turkey, and the winner of a terror-free region will be all the brotherly peoples in our region.

QUESTION - The letter your esteemed wife sent to US President Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, also resonated widely in the world press. In her letter, the First Lady's call to Melania Trump to 'show the same sensitivity she showed for the war in Ukraine for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza' was remarkable. What would you like to say about the call made by the First Lady with a mother's sensitivity?

What does the poet say, these lines are also in one of my poetry cassettes, 'There is a doomsday boiling inside me. This doomsday also boils in the hearts of mothers.' Based on this, a mother's heart is both delicate and strong. When mothers intervene in the resolution of such difficult issues, they can change the climate. Especially if there are thousands of babies and children being massacred, they adopt every child who falls to the ground as if they were their own children. My daughters also asked their mother to write this letter. I find this initiative very important in this respect. The letter added a new dimension to Turkey's Gaza diplomacy and also showed that, in addition to initiatives carried out through official channels, a humanitarian and conscientious language can also be effective in international relations. Unfortunately, we did not see even a quarter of the West's approach to the innocent in Ukraine in Gaza. There is nothing left for us to say other than 'Shame on those who have eyes but do not see the state of those little ones who try to get some food by lining up with pots and plates in their hands!' The state of these little ones is obvious. For this reason, we expect this humanitarian approach from everyone, from the whole West. We want blood and tears to cease in all geographies.

QUESTION - I want to ask about the Zangezur Corridor in South Caucasus peace. You have already met with all parties. On August 8, initials were signed for the Zangezur Corridor at the White House. Afterwards, there were negative evaluations from Russia and Iran. How did the developments reflect on the summit, what was your impression?

I believe that; I hope the South Caucasus will attain the peace it longs for. In my bilateral meeting with Mr. Ilham Aliyev, I saw that hope in Mr. Ilham. The signatures at the White House naturally accelerated the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process. Azerbaijan and Armenia have significantly overcome the obstacles on the path to peace and have come to the final point. We had a comprehensive meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and then with Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. In both of these meetings, I saw that both Aliyev and Pashinyan were at the same point. They are looking in the same direction. There is no problem or difference regarding the Zangezur Corridor issue. Mr. Ilham is much more confident about this. Especially that meeting during the America trip, that meeting, has almost been decisive in the steps they will take at this point. With the establishment of peace, land and railways in our region, this is very important, will be activated, border gates will be opened, and many areas, especially trade, will be positively affected. It is a matter of us being positively affected by this as well. With the evaluation of new cooperation opportunities, the countries of the region will also profit from this. These are very clear and obvious. Russia and Iran will also understand in the coming period that their concerns are groundless.

QUESTION - Do you think the CHP's new management, which set out with the discourse of change, can be a remedy for the opposition problem in Turkey? And do you see a serious opposition that will truly be a rival to you? On the other hand, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said that the missile tests in Sinop disturbed the fishermen and the fish. What would be your comment on these statements?

As you know, we are conducting test firings of our medium-range missiles developed by ROKETSAN and Delta V in Sinop. These are the medium-range missiles that Turkey can currently develop. As you know, we also have work in different geographies for longer-range missiles. But for now, we will continue to conduct these tests for Turkey's independence. Meanwhile, fishing in Sinop has grown 5-fold in 3-4 years. The fishermen of Sinop have no problems. Sinop fishermen are exporting Turkish salmon to Japan. Therefore, I think Mr. Özgür is unaware of the missiles, the development of fishing in Sinop, or tourism. He made a statement saying 'the fish are getting stressed.' Oh my, what has my country come to. But we will overcome these.

As I always say, the chronic opposition problem in Turkey has not been solved. We are in a situation where we cannot even speak of a hope for a solution. What problem has the CHP been able to provide a remedy for until today that it could be a remedy for the opposition problem? Can a political party that cannot even provide solutions to its own internal party issues be a remedy for the nation's problems, for God's sake? The pitiful state of the local administrations they won by saying 'we will serve the nation' is a trailer of their management approach. They do not know how to serve; they only know how to fight.

QUESTION - Are the developments in the economy progressing as you planned? In this framework, when will the calendar process regarding interest rates, inflation decline, and its reflection on the citizen's pocket be fully shaped?

The developments in the economy are positive. Especially in the last 2-3 months, we have entered a strong, positive cycle again. Developments in the March-June period, both domestically and abroad, naturally had an effect. But these are behind us. We have returned to a strong, positive cycle in almost all areas. Growth figures for the second quarter have been announced. 4.8 percent is a very strong growth. There is very strong growth in all sectors, in all areas, except for the agricultural sector, which was affected by frost and drought. Unemployment rates are in the single digits, our reserves are at record levels, and the decline in inflation continues. Naturally, with the decline in inflation, the improvement in financial conditions will also continue. Our expectation is that this positive cycle and trend will continue. It is quite likely that we will enter the group of high-income countries according to the World Bank definition in terms of per capita national income this year. Our country will have moved up a class with per capita national income. We are, of course, closely following the developments in the real sector. We are making an intense effort for the real sector to be relieved, especially for exports and investments to increase. We think that we will complete the year with a figure in line with our targets for inflation. Our sincere fight against the cost of living is truly yielding results, and this will continue strongly. In other words, we are growing on one hand, and unemployment and inflation are falling on the other. Concerns and anxieties in the financial sense are behind us. Both the treasury's borrowing interest rates are falling, our risk premium is falling, and our reserves are truly at record levels. As of Friday, our reserves are over 178 billion dollars. Therefore, with a strong will, patience, and determination, we have returned to this positive cycle again. God willing, this will continue.

News Source: 12punto