Joint press conference by Dervişoğlu and Kılıçdaroğlu: Critical summit concludes

Highlights from Kılıçdaroğlu's remarks are as follows:

"I wanted to come and congratulate him after he was elected chairman, and it was destined for today. In our brief conversation, I discussed with the Chairman the problems of Turkey, the world, our region, economic difficulties, unemployment, refugees and asylum seekers, the complex structure in the Middle East... We exchanged views on these. I convey my heartfelt thanks and wishes for success to the Chairman, and I also thank him for his gracious hospitality."

Dervişoğlu expressed the following:

"As you know, I had undergone surgery after Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu was elected chairman. At that time, he showed great grace by calling me personally to convey his get-well wishes. I told him that I would be very pleased to meet with political figures who have left significant marks on Turkish political life and that I had a desire to visit him. With his usual grace, he said, 'You were elected chairman, I should be the one to come and visit you,' and he kept his word. I express that I am extremely happy to host him at our headquarters. We hosted him together with our colleagues.

We talked about the problems of Turkey, the region, and the world, and exchanged views. We also made an assessment regarding the problems facing Turkish political life. While expressing my personal views, I pointed out the drawbacks of politics being conducted not through institutions but by being personalized through individuals, and the construction of politics through individuals by setting aside the unique institutional identities of political parties. I believe he agrees with my thoughts.

"THERE IS NO ASPECT OF OUR MEETING THAT CAN BE USED FOR SPECULATION"

Let me say this: we did not talk about yesterday, we always talked about tomorrow. Acting on the thought that 'yesterday is in the past, my dear, now it is necessary to say new things,' I stated that we will continue our journey of serving our country with the responsibility of a political party chairman. You, of course, depending on the timing of this visit (turning to Kılıçdaroğlu: If you allow me, I will take this responsibility, sir), came here both to take footage and to ask your questions; I know this and I respect it, but there is no aspect of our meeting that can be used for speculation. People who engage in politics for their country also have decisions they need to make at certain times in order to stay away from speculation.

Within that scope, we found it appropriate, given the sensitivity of the process, to make our statement together with the Chairman, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, and not to take questions from you, the esteemed members of the press. Let me be the one to say this. I thank the Chairman, Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, once again for his kind visit and grace."