First statement from AKP Spokesperson Çelik regarding the 'Mobilization Regulation amendment'

Çelik held a press conference while the AKP Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) meeting was ongoing. Çelik emphasized that AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a comprehensive assessment at the beginning of the MKYK meeting, and that this assessment concerned both domestic and foreign policy.

Çelik announced that President Erdoğan will have a busy schedule in foreign policy. Çelik conveyed that President Erdoğan, while evaluating the upcoming 4-year period to the members of the MKYK, the party's highest body, made statements regarding the need to protect unity and solidarity, to avoid internal party disputes, and to walk together focused on the same goal, and also stated that all his colleagues should have their preparations in their respective fields of duty complete in order to evaluate the next period well. Çelik stated that they made evaluations regarding the AKP's camp preparations.

Stating that AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan also made quick assessments about the point reached in the defense industry in light of these recent developments and expressed that they will invest in this field more strongly and consolidate it, Çelik said, "Of course, one of the important messages is the protection of the unity and solidarity within the People's Alliance. Our President and Chairman expressed to all MKYK members that everyone should act in unity and solidarity against statements aimed at disrupting the peace and unity of the People's Alliance, and that everyone should act with high sensitivity and responsibility regarding the protection of the unity of the People's Alliance," he said.

Expressing their condolences to the Iranian state and the brotherly Iranian people, Çelik said, "It is truly sad that President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and the accompanying delegation lost their lives in such an accident. We stand with the brotherly Iranian nation in these difficult days. Today, our Vice President and Foreign Minister will attend on behalf of the Republic of Turkey. When such accidents happen in the world, being able to reach them in time and intervene in time is a matter of capability and opportunity in Turkey as well.

In this context, what was requested from us was fulfilled immediately. An AKINCI UAV and a helicopter with night vision were sent. In addition, AFAD teams were sent. Of course, the fact that the AKINCI UAV carried out a flight in a very short time under very long and difficult weather conditions and located the deceased individuals is extremely important in terms of showing how Turkey's capabilities and opportunities in this regard have developed. Therefore, we once again express our gratitude to those who brought this technology to our nation in this field. It has once again emerged that Turkey's leading role in this field should continue in the same way," he said.

"THE DEMAND FOR NETANYAHU'S ARREST IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT"

Pointing out that there are very important developments in the world regarding Gaza, Çelik said, "It is extremely important that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has requested a decision from the Pre-Trial Chamber for the arrest and capture of Netanyahu. This request has recorded in itself that; Netanyahu and other government members, especially the Minister of Defense in the government, are directly responsible for war crimes. 

Therefore, it is important that Netanyahu and the Minister of Defense are emphasized in the request. Here, we hope that the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court will give a response in accordance with the prosecutor's request and that an arrest warrant will be issued for these individuals in the name of human conscience, in the name of international law, and even in the name of standing on the right side of history. 

Of course, the qualified assessments in the request of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court are also very important here. The Prosecutor accuses the Netanyahu government of deliberately and systematically depriving the civilian population of things necessary for human survival. This is extremely important. It is doing it deliberately and systematically, which is already a crime of genocide. It underlines the starvation of civilians and the commission of acts that could harm people's bodies and health. 

A war crime is being committed by deliberately targeting the civilian population. Therefore, we see that all acts within the scope of persecution and crimes against humanity are carried out by Netanyahu and his government, as stated in the prosecutor's request. This is a delayed decision, or rather a delayed request, hopefully it will turn into a decision.

But for us, it is a positive request, even if it is delayed. We hope that from now on, the International Criminal Court will turn this into a decision and do what is necessary for these individuals to be tried for war crimes," he stated.

"THE ATTITUDES OF NORWAY AND IRELAND ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT"

Underlining that they welcome the announcement by Spain, Norway, and Ireland that they will recognize Palestine as a state, Çelik said, "As you know, as soon as they heard this, Israel decided to recall its ambassadors from Ireland and Norway. However, it is clear that for the European Union, this should not be limited to Spain, Ireland, and Norway, but should apply to the entire European Union. 

By acting in this way, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been making extremely valuable and precious statements for a very long time, that is, since the time this event was expressed as a 'genocide'. But the Spanish government did not change its stance here. We congratulate the Spanish Government once again. We send our greetings to the friendly Spanish people from here.

Likewise, it is extremely important that Norway and Ireland also stated that they would recognize it. Today, all 3 Prime Ministers made such a statement. We hope that this will be the main axis and fundamental stance of the European Union's policy across the union. By acting in this way, for the first time within the Western world, Spain, Ireland, and Norway have shown that they stand on the right side of history, have shown that they are on the side of human conscience, and have shown that they are on the side of international law. Therefore, we congratulate them all," he said.

Reacting to a statement made by Senator Graham, who implied that nuclear weapons could be used by Israel by citing Hiroshima and Nagasaki as an example, Çelik continued his words as follows:

"This is a terrible statement. Again, it is a very instructive thing. Everyone who does not read it should read it. The threat letter written by some of these senators and members of the House of Representatives to the president and prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. They wrote a letter that personally threatened them, even threatened their families, and threatened not to let them into the United States. 

This actually means the complete collapse of the thesis of human rights, the rule of law, the supremacy of international law, and the international order based on the supremacy of international law, which is represented in the West. A strong voice should have come from other institutions, other senators, and members of the House of Representatives against this. Unfortunately, it did not happen. Again, you know, they sent a bill to Congress. This bill is a bill called the anti-semitism awareness act. The basis of this, of course, is to silence all criticism against the genocide policy put forward by this government against Israel. That is, they are trying to make it a crime to say that Israel is practicing racism. They are trying to make it a crime to say that the Netanyahu government in Israel is acting just like the Nazis.

What will happen if we go with this mindset? They will pave the way for judging and labeling all students who carry out protests in American universities along with this. Now, the Netanyahu government is displaying an attitude that casts a shadow over the stance of Jews in the world and at the same time endangers the safety of everyone in Israel. These initiatives, of course, have a side independent of their government. What happens when you do this? If you label the stance that people put forward against certain Zionist activities, genocide policy, and Netanyahu government crimes as an overall attitude, then you condemn all kinds of criticism. And all lines get mixed up. Therefore, all of this actually reveals a picture that the necessary sensitivity regarding the protection of freedom of thought and freedoms in other areas has disappeared."

Stating that every state has the right to defend itself, but that a country's right to self-defense does not mean the right to commit murder, Çelik said, "In no way can it be a justification for murders in the form of attacking other countries, attacking the peoples of other countries by destroying and exploiting one's own holy book. When you look at all of these, what should be resisted, what should be resisted against everyone, is that people on the streets of Israel are protesting the Netanyahu government.

How are they protesting in the squares of Western capitals? How are they protesting in the squares at universities with Turkey? The Netanyahu government must be condemned in the name of humanity. I hope and wish that the request of the International Criminal Court will be accepted by the pre-trial chamber. The necessary decision will be made here, and there will be no question of entering any country in any way. As a requirement of this decision, this murder network will be stopped," he said.

QUESTIONED ABOUT THE REGULATION REGARDING STRAY DOGS

When asked by a journalist, 'It was stated that there is a regulation regarding stray dogs. What is the status of the work? It is also rumored that there is an option regarding euthanasia in the draft, how do you interpret it?', Çelik replied as follows:

"It is a draft, as the name suggests. There are various opposing demands in society regarding this. As you know, it is still being worked on in this framework. It is planned to come to the parliament next week or the week after. But as I said, there is a study where all the views on the draft are discussed, the work continues."

Regarding the question about the resignation of the AKP Rize Provincial Chairman, Çelik replied, "I saw some comments like the beginning of a change process, etc. Change in the AKP is not an extraordinary situation. We are a party that is constantly changing while preserving both our traditions and our experience so far. Our organization headquarters has an ordinary agenda. And the ordinary agenda is this. In this framework, steps will be taken regarding reinforcement in various places. In some places, steps will be taken regarding change.

There will be a change of duty in some places. The organization headquarters continues with acting appointments in some places. It will be a matter of converting these places that continue with acting appointments into permanent ones. Therefore, it will take place within the ordinary agenda of the organization headquarters. Today or tomorrow, there will be such things, savings regarding other provinces. Therefore, these are things that are running within the framework of the ordinary agenda of our AKP Organization Headquarters," he replied.

Regarding the question about the change regarding the mobilization regulation, Çelik replied as follows:

"Last night, when the regulation on mobilization was abolished and turned into a directive, it became quite a topic on social media.... What is happening? In fact, this is an ordinary agenda, friends. 

As you know, the previous mobilization regulation was implemented in 1990. Since 2011, such documents need to be updated around changing war technologies, changing war conditions, and changing geopolitical developments around us. This is, of course, carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of National Defense and with the contribution of the Secretary General of the National Security Council. 

But of course, the strategic essence of this mobilization issue is this, as you know. In any case of war, God forbid, it is essential that all national power elements, all power elements in all institutions and civil society, are coordinated in a way that will support the Turkish Armed Forces and be placed under its command. 

That is, in a war situation, God forbid, how will all national power elements be included in a way that ensures the sovereignty rights and security of the Republic of Turkey and our nation.... This document, which was implemented in the conditions of the 90s, underwent small changes 6-7 times. Later, with the regulation ceasing to be regulatory for technical reasons and the directive becoming a regulatory document, in fact, since 2011, the views of everyone who can be considered a national power element, that is, everyone who can be evaluated regarding ensuring and maintaining the security of the Republic of Turkey, from all ministries, all institutions and organizations, have been taken. 

In fact, the earthquake agenda was also addressed. Of course, in the meantime, we share with you frequently. There are very big changes in the world regarding the protection of the security of countries. But this document had started to be worked on before. The earthquake agenda also intervened. Now, all these things, how will the national power elements support the mission of the Turkish Armed Forces to protect the country in a war situation, how will they come under its command. In this way, the views of all institutions were taken. The contradictions between these views were resolved. 

What is the coordination of what needs to be done at the highest level for the national security of the Republic of Turkey in light of new geopolitical and technological developments? This was decided. It was published as a directive. So it is an ordinary process, it has been updated in an ordinary way. This step has not been taken for any special subject or special agenda. It has been implemented with the directive of our President as this document matured regarding the security of the Republic of Turkey."