Erdoğan's first reaction to Öcalan march days later: 'I am truly saddened'

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements regarding the march held in Diyarbakır for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the terrorist organization PKK.

Regarding the march, he stated, "I was truly saddened to hear such things from Diyarbakır just as we were thinking that the country had 'embraced the atmosphere of a Turkey without terrorism'."

Erdoğan answered journalists' questions on the plane upon his return from his Gulf tour.

The questions directed to Erdoğan regarding domestic politics and his responses are as follows:

QUESTION - Mr. President, I would like to ask a question regarding the issue of a Turkey without terrorism. Is the DEM Party taking a somewhat negative stance in this process recently, do you have such an observation? They held a demonstration in Diyarbakır, and some unpleasant words were spoken there. What are your thoughts? In other words, is the DEM Party still maintaining its initial stance, or is there some relaxation?

Honestly, I would not have wanted such an approach from the DEM Party. I believe we will have an acceptance of the DEM delegation by this weekend, and we will meet. We will also put these issues on the table with them. I do not think the DEM delegation is of this mindset, and I do not want to think so. I have had more discussions on these issues with Ms. Pervin. Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to re-evaluate these issues in the meeting we will hold this weekend.

Because a Turkey without terrorism is beneficial not only to us but to all of Turkey. It is beneficial to all of us, to the 86 million, whether they are Laz, Turk, or Kurd. I was truly saddened to hear such things from Diyarbakır just as we were thinking that the country had "embraced the atmosphere of a Turkey without terrorism." Hopefully, let us move away from this as soon as possible and build and revive a Turkey where peace, tranquility, and brotherhood prevail. Let us achieve this.

QUESTION - The CHP voted against the Iraq and Syria motion when it was voted on in Parliament. What does it mean to vote against it at a time when we most need to be in Syria? In a sense, an interpretation emerged as if to say 'our soldiers should not be there'. How do you evaluate this? Another question of mine is; you mentioned at the beginning, you are talking to Oman and Qatar about the Eurofighter purchase. Is the number clear? Do the manufacturing companies approve of it being sold to a second country? Has the legal framework been discussed?

The whole world now knows why we are in Iraq and Syria. But the Republican People's Party (CHP) still has not been able to learn why we are there. The problem is here. The CHP has also been unable to understand that this issue is not a party issue but a national issue. But I believe these developments will help the CHP understand this as well.

Because I believe that there will be serious pressure on them from their base. The struggle being waged in Syria and Iraq is not just a struggle against terrorism, but also an operation to disrupt the game being played against Turkey's survival. I believe we are getting the results of this. Moreover, let us note that in places where instability is experienced, terrorist organizations thrive. We must never give them this opportunity. The CHP management should come out and explain why they are uncomfortable with us eliminating the dangers beyond our borders.

Of course, we cannot put Turkey's security at risk just because the CHP members will be uncomfortable. As for the Eurofighter issue, we are currently conducting negotiations with two countries here. One is Qatar, the other is Oman. Now, I have also held these meetings. My Minister of Defense, my Minister of Foreign Affairs, they have also carried out these contacts. They will continue these negotiations in the coming period. We want to strengthen our Air Force much more by bringing these to a conclusion as quickly as possible, hopefully. With the purchase of these aircraft, our Air Force will become much stronger.

QUESTION - There is a serious water shortage in metropolitan cities, especially in Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, and İzmir, and there were criticisms in the public opinion that the municipalities were insufficient regarding this issue. How do you evaluate this picture regarding this issue? Do you have a solution plan as the government?

Drought is a natural reality, but not taking precautions against drought is a management weakness. The picture experienced today is the result of those neglects. Municipal management is not done by hanging slogans on billboards, posing on social media, or creating perceptions. I am no stranger to this. Because when I was a candidate for Mayor of Istanbul, Istanbul experienced exactly these difficulties. Remember, there were garbage, water, and infrastructure problems. We have returned to the same point again. When the job falls to us, we cannot leave our citizens without water. We have given the necessary instructions to the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) on this matter. We said, "Be ready at any moment." We are currently working on this. Although the occupancy rates in the dams have reached a serious level of decline, we, as DSİ, are doing our best.

We carry out these works as we did in the past in Van, as in Ankara, as in Istanbul. We did not just put the dams into operation back then; we built new dams. We also put the existing dams into operation. For example; we transferred water to Istanbul from Melen. We did not stop there; we transported water from the Anatolian side to the European side through pipes under the sea. We are the will that does these things. In other words, we are not watching a football match from the stands.

We do whatever is necessary, we do it again, and we will do it again. We are producing projects, we are producing solutions, and we are taking steps regarding this at any moment. As you stated, Ankara, Bursa, and Istanbul are experiencing water shortages at any moment and are heading towards experiencing them. But we will not leave our people without water in these places, with God's permission.

QUESTION - There is a case currently ongoing against the Beşiktaş Municipality, known in the public as the Aziz İhsan Aktaş case, and its indictment has been prepared. In the hundreds-page indictment, the prosecutor has such theses; allegations that will truly go down in history as a black mark... I will not ask for your comment on an ongoing case, but now the Chairman of the Republican People's Party, Özgür Özel, while he should normally bring a self-criticism regarding this matter, which I think is the normal thing, he is targeting you and the AK Party. He is threatening to put you on trial. I would like to get your thoughts and comments on this issue.

You know, their mindset is still Yassıada. Whereas Yassıada was 'Yaslıada' (Island of Mourning). We turned that island into the Island of Democracy and Freedoms.

What is it, if they come to power, they will put AK Party members on trial. They still haven't been able to get rid of this fascist mentality. There is a saying here, 'the brazen thief suppresses the landlord,' and they are playing exactly this right now. My nation knows the CHP very well now. They know their 'look at the acrobat' politics very well.

We have always said, 'let justice be served, whoever did what should account for it before the law.' But they still cannot understand this. You will both build towers from the nation's money, make municipalities the focus of theft, corruption, bribery, and extortion crimes, and then make threats when the judiciary takes action to hold them accountable. There is no such thing as a bagel for 25 cents. Can there be such nonsense?

What is happening in CHP municipalities has begun to be revealed with evidence, proofs, and the confessions of the CHP members themselves. They are saying it themselves. Mr. Özel's threats are an effort to "prepare a cover for the minaret," nothing else. The person you mentioned regarding Beşiktaş is already known. Many documents and information are coming out from different places in different ways. We are sure of ourselves, we have infinite confidence in ourselves, and we are doing our work regarding this. But no matter what they do, I apologize for my language, the sewer has burst, my nation sees what is happening.

News Source: 12punto