Erdoğan speaks in the US: 'Israel's genocide also threatens regional peace'

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at a dinner organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) in New York. President Erdoğan was accompanied by his wife, Emine Erdoğan.

Speaking at the event, Erdoğan said, “As the Turkish community in America, the support you will provide to our fight against terrorist organizations, primarily FETÖ and the PKK, is very important. Members of terrorist organizations target not only our country's interests but also our citizens abroad, their commercial enterprises, and non-governmental organizations, either directly or indirectly. Organization members, who try to gain benefits by flooding American decision-makers and commercial circles with lies, are also trying to fuel divisions and fragmentation within the Turkish community. I expect you to be vigilant against organization members who act as voluntary extras in every anti-Turkey operation.”

“We did not fall for their games yesterday, and we will be very careful from now on,” said Erdoğan, adding, "We will continue our fight on legal grounds to the end against these traitors who attempted a coup against the national will, who have the blood of our citizens on their hands, who cast a shadow over our democracy, our peace, our unity and solidarity, and whose sole purpose is to harm Turkey and the Turkish nation."

Pointing out that Islamophobia and xenophobia have turned into a major epidemic that also threatens the peace of citizens, Erdoğan said, ”In recent years, Islamophobia and xenophobia in Western countries, especially in Europe, have turned into a major epidemic that threatens the peace of our citizens. Almost every day, an arson attack occurs against our masjids, mosques, and businesses belonging to Muslims. Immigrants and Muslims are also the targets of far-right movements. Social media and some politicians are practically encouraging the spread of racist hatred and adding fuel to the fire.”

Stating that as Turkey, they closely follow the far-right movements and hate speech in the countries where their citizens live, Erdoğan expressed that Islamophobia exists just as racism does.

Stating that they played a leading role together with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in declaring March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia at the United Nations General Assembly, Erdoğan said, "We led the decisions taken by the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly regarding the heinous attacks against our holy book, the Quran, in Europe. All these initiatives became a pressure factor for Western countries to amend their legal and administrative regulations and develop new strategies in the fight against the far right. The start of the preparation of the 'National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia' in America last November was a good example of this.”

Stating that they will continue to lead the fight against anti-Muslim sentiment, Erdoğan noted that it is observed that various interest groups against Turkey continue to exert pressure on Congress.

Erdoğan said, "You know best the discomfort that such activities create in the Turkish-American public opinion. We must be vigilant against this mentality that tries to poison the brains of our children and youth by filling school curricula with baseless slanders. Your response to these hostile activities in unity and coordination will ensure that American politicians learn the historical facts. Making subjects that should be left to historians a tool for politics and exploiting them through various lobbies will contribute neither to Turkish-American relations nor to the normalization efforts Turkey is conducting with Armenia. The war in Ukraine, which is about to enter its third year, threatens regional and global stability."

Expressing that they have emphasized from the very first day that diplomacy should be prioritized for lasting peace in the region, Erdoğan said, ”I say it clearly: we see every drop of blood spilled and every day spent in conflict as a great loss. With this understanding, we patiently continue our efforts for the establishment of a just peace.”

Stating that the global system has begun to lose all its effectiveness and credibility, and that institutions whose duty is to ensure peace and security are in a very clear moral collapse, Erdoğan noted that the massacre that has been going on in Gaza for 352 days has shown this once again.

Reminding that 30 years after Srebrenica, a extremely brutal genocide is taking place this time in Gaza before the eyes of the whole world, Erdoğan said that 1.9 million people have had to leave their homes to date, and these people are struggling to survive in very poor conditions without any infrastructure, making do with whatever they have left.

Erdoğan said, ”While all this suffering is being experienced, unfortunately, no visible reaction has risen from administrations, except for a handful of brave people.”

Similarly, stating that global institutions and organizations have not taken any effective steps to stop the oppression in Gaza or prevent Israel's massacres, Erdoğan said that the Israeli administration, which is rewarded for every illegality it commits, engages in bloodier, more inhumane, and more unscrupulous attacks each time.

Underlining that the genocide Israel is carrying out in Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza, also threatens the peace of the region, Erdoğan said, ”The recent attacks against Lebanon and the latest statements made by Israel are a clear manifestation of efforts to spread the war to the region. As Turkey, we are doing and will continue to do our best to stop this policy of occupation, invasion, and massacre as soon as possible.”

Stating that they will not remain silent against any attack on the sanctity and historical status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, our first qibla, Erdoğan noted that in all his contacts with leaders in the US, he will underline that pressure on Zionist Israel must be increased in every platform for the establishment of a permanent ceasefire.

Erdoğan made the following assessment: "I must also express this specifically. Conscientious segments in many different states of America, including the streets of New York, have taken to the streets to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and for the Palestinian people to attain their own state. We have followed with appreciation the activities you have carried out with Muslim Americans in Washington, New York, Boston, and Chicago. I expect you to maintain your sensitivities on this issue. I pray that God may be pleased with everyone who is the voice of the oppressed Palestinians. I would like to emphasize that increasing your contact and cooperation with Muslim Americans and different segments in America will be beneficial. Especially in such periods, it is extremely important that we display a strong stance and solidarity.”

Erdoğan said, ”I underline once again that you need to meet on common ground and be inclusive rather than divisive so that the Turkish-American community can be represented in the best and most effective way in every field. Please do not forget this either. Both our representative offices in America and our institutions and organizations in Turkey are by your side. We will continue to support you in economy, trade, civil society, and other areas.”

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar also attended the program.

News Source: İHA