President Erdoğan: "We are pleased with the positive outcome of our F-16 request with the US"

The Cabinet meeting was held at Beştepe under the chairmanship of AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan.

The meeting was held ahead of Erdoğan's visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 13 and to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on February 14. The meeting lasted 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements:

-We held the second Cabinet meeting of the new year with a busy agenda. We discussed many issues, including the economy, education, and trade. First, as we always do, I would like to express the issues we have carried out since our last Cabinet meeting.

"OUR TOURISM REVENUES ROSE TO 54 BILLION DOLLARS"

-Fractures in the global security architecture are making the global economic climate uncertain. Despite all the negativities effective worldwide, Turkey is moving towards its goals with determination. Our tourism revenue increased by 17 percent compared to 2023 and rose to 54 billion dollars. We are pleased with the increasing confidence in the Turkish economy among international investors.

"WE WILL SEND THEM IN THE COMING MONTHS"

-We have implemented our manned space mission within the scope of our national space program. Alper Gezeravcı returned to our country after completing his scientific experiments. We will also send our second astronaut for suborbital experiments in the coming months. We are saddened to see the shallow mentality that criticizes works and services.

"WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE POSITIVE OUTCOME OF OUR F-16 REQUEST"

-We continue to reap the fruits of our defense industry investments. We experienced the joy of delivering numerous defense industry products, each of which is a separate effort and success, to the navy.

I wish it to be beneficial to our navy and congratulate those who contributed. We are pleased with the positive outcome of our F-16 request.

We hosted Iranian President Raisi in Ankara on January 24. We discussed many issues comprehensively. At the National Security Council (MGK), we both took stock of 2023 and received a comprehensive evaluation of our cross-border operations.

-Turkey will not allow the establishment of a 'terroristan' on its southern border. We will leave our children a region where there is no terror and where peace prevails. During our visit to İzmir, we opened our city hospital for service. We put the Gayrettepe-Kağıthane line into service. We will work with the slogan "Istanbul that connects, not complicates." I wish the Gayrettepe-Kağıthane metro line to be beneficial to Istanbul.

"WE EXPECT MORE EFFORT FROM OUR RELIGIOUS OFFICIALS"

-Our Diyanet community undertakes an important task in raising the 'generation of Asım.' We expect more effort from our religious officials. I believe they will fulfill their duties of knowledge, guidance, notification, and representation in the best way possible.

"WE WILL KEEP OUR PROMISE TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION"

-The Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes deeply affected our 11 provinces. On the 1st anniversary of the earthquake, we were in the region both to deliver the completed houses and to share in the pain. Reconstruction efforts continue uninterrupted.

We are working day and night to get our earthquake-survivor brothers and sisters to their durable homes. Hopefully, we will deliver 75 thousand houses within two months.

We will keep our promise to finish construction within a year of laying the foundation. We will work with all our might until we lift our earthquake cities back up. I want to address our brothers and sisters in the earthquake region. We are a great state, a noble nation; we will rapidly heal the wounds of the disaster of the century with the unity of the century.

-There is now a completely different Turkey with its politics and society. Our nation has proven this fact to all those inside and outside who want tutelage. Hopefully, we will leave their ambitions unfulfilled once again. We will not give opportunities to those who want to disrupt the climate of trust and stability. The era of those who stab this nation in the back every time it stands up is now over. There is now a Turkey that is moving towards its goals with confidence and stability, despite being surrounded by a circle of blood and fire.

"TURKEY HAS THE POWER TO OVERCOME ALL ITS DIFFICULTIES"

-We chose to embrace peace instead of warmongering. We never changed our stance alongside the oppressed and the innocent. The message we should take from here on our own behalf is this: Turkey, thank God, has the power to overcome all its difficulties. In our faith, pessimism and hopelessness are, God forbid, considered equivalent to disbelief.

"WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN GAZA?"

-Today, they attacked Rafah, where 1.5 million people have taken refuge. While Western powers call for restraint to Israel in front of the stage, they provide weapons and ammunition support. In the meetings held in the Emirates and Egypt, what can be done for our brothers and sisters in Gaza? We will look at this. Once again, I greet you all with love and respect. Stay well.

News Source: 12punto