Murat Kurum: Many fake news stories and slanders produced at desks have been circulated

IMM Candidate Murat Kurum visited the Black Sea Foundation.

Making statements here regarding the landslide at the mine in İliç, Erzincan, Kurum began his speech with the following words: "We are in deep sorrow as a nation. We experienced a landslide at the mine in İliç, Erzincan. Our workers are currently under the rubble. Our state has been working with a spirit of mobilization since the first minutes of the incident. Our friends are working heart and soul on search and rescue operations to save our brothers. Our greatest wish is that there will be no loss of life. Hopefully, we are waiting for good news from there. I convey my best wishes to our families, our dear Erzincan, and our noble nation."

"IT WAS INSPECTED EXACTLY 135 TIMES"

Responding to criticisms regarding the EIA report given to the mine, Kurum said, "I want to underline these points. They are bringing up the EIA report given to this facility during my ministry. The Ministry of Environment only inspects environmental impacts. It looks at whether the facility is harming the environment and nature or not. During our ministry, the environmental impact inspections of this facility were carried out very strictly. Whether this facility was operating in accordance with environmental legislation was inspected exactly 135 times."

"ITS DOORS WERE SEALED FOR 3 MONTHS"

Underlining that an administrative fine at the maximum limit of the Environmental Law was imposed on the facility on June 21, 2022, Kurum stated, "Due to the deficiencies seen in the facility's operations within the scope of environmental legislation, its doors were sealed for 3 months. Not stopping there, a criminal complaint was filed with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office because the facility was polluting the environment. In summary, we determinedly applied all criminal processes provided for by law without showing any tolerance. The facility resumed its operations only after it was determined by expert reports that it had taken all necessary measures."

"THE MINISTRY CANNOT MAKE THE CAPACITY INCREASE DECISION, IT DOES NOT HAVE SUCH AUTHORITY"

Adding that it is not possible for the decision regarding the facility's capacity increase to be taken by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Kurum said, "Those who slander us also know that the Ministry of Environment does not and cannot make the decision for a facility's capacity increase because it does not have such authority. It only measures the environmental impact of the capacity increase and either approves it or does not. Again, in decisions regarding EIA reports, the scientific opinions and reports of many different institutions and organizations are considered. The EIA decision they are harping on today was approved by commission members consisting of 21 institutions and organizations."

"OUR NATION KNOWS THIS ILL INTENT VERY WELL, IT RECOGNIZES IT VERY WELL"

Stating that a systematic and conscious perception operation and black propaganda managed from a single center have been launched since last night, Kurum continued his statement by saying, "Such an incident that has plunged our nation into mourning has been turned into political exploitation. Many fake news stories and slanders produced at desks have been circulated. Our nation knows this ill intent very well, it recognizes it very well. We ask everyone with a conscience: With what conscience, with what emotion did you bring this issue to Istanbul and the Istanbul elections? At a stage where our citizens are still under the soil, where the eyes, minds, and hearts of 85 million are here; what is it if not heartlessness and lack of compassion to use this incident for politics? Which human emotion, which human virtue is this consistent with?"

Kurum concluded his speech with the following words: "This nation will not forgive those who pursue political gain over the lives of our people, those who try to deceive our nation. This nation will render these political brokers and these perception operations void, it will not forget, and it will punish them with its deep conscience and foresight. Let no one have any doubt about this. We have only one goal right now. And that is the rescue of our people as soon as possible. I once again convey my best wishes to our families, our Erzincan, and our nation."