President Erdoğan: We have taken historic steps that we call a silent revolution

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the TOBB plaque ceremony.

President Erdoğan's statements:

-The TOBB plaque ceremony is a debt of gratitude to the unsung heroes.

-Our 98 brothers and sisters who will receive plaques have never stopped believing in the Turkish economy. I wish these plaques and certificates to be auspicious.

-I would like to state this point once again with great satisfaction. As the TOBB community, you are witnesses to the last quarter-century of Turkey. You know where Turkey has come from and where it is now. Today, a Turkey that is advancing in every field has emerged. We have always been in solidarity with you on this journey, which is entering its 23rd year.

-We have achieved Turkey's successes in every field together. We brought the number of visitors in tourism from 13 million to 61 million together. We opened our business world to global markets with you. Whatever we did, we achieved it together. Today, TOBB has nearly 2 million members, realizes 99 percent of our country's exports, and 71 percent of registered employment is under your roof.

-Together with our ministers, we have been with you at TOBB economic councils, and we have implemented many issues that our business world demanded. You have never left us alone either. You responded to the call at the 2017 general assembly and ensured that TOGG came to life. We gave the best answer together to the incompetent ones who asked, 'Where is its factory?' 60 years ago, our Devrim (Revolution) car project was sabotaged for flimsy reasons, but we brought the car of the era to life together. It will start exporting next year.

-In the defense industry, we are in the top 3 globally, especially in UAVs. We have reached a position where we are pointed at in UAV and SİHA technology, which was once not provided to our country. We have become a country whose door is knocked on. I want to achieve the same success with HÜRJET. We signed a major agreement for HÜRJET in Spain. Work will be carried out for HÜRJET to enter the inventory of the Spanish Air Command.

-We are also proud that you have become one of the top 3 chamber systems in the world that produces the most services. The greatest support for earthquake victims to regain their homes came from TOBB. We are overcoming this disaster, which cost our country over 104 billion dollars. We have delivered the keys to nearly 200 thousand houses. Reconstruction work in the earthquake zone continues 24/7. By the end of the year, we will have delivered the keys to 453 thousand houses to their rightful owners. The revival of the earthquake zone will continue to be our top priority agenda.

"WE HAVE SET OUR SIGHTS ON 2053"

-We worked hard together for 23 years and reached the 2023 goals together. Now we have set our sights on 2053, and for this, we are always looking forward. We feel the joy and justified pride of bringing works to this country in the depths of our hearts.

-We see TOBB as one of the most respected institutions in our country. It is of great importance that you produce constructive and guiding policies for the economy to reach a healthy and secure environment, for uncertainties to be eliminated, and for our business world to be able to see its path ahead. In particular, your support is of critical importance in reaching the goal of a Turkey without terrorism.

-In 41 years, we have had more than 10 thousand security personnel martyred, and more than 50 thousand people have lost their lives. The direct cost of terrorism reaches 2 trillion dollars. Terrorism did not just remain as terrorism; different sectors emerged through terrorism. There were those who made political exploitation through the issue of terrorism. Turkey was also exposed to the exploitation of terror barons. Brave steps were taken during the late Özal period, but these initiatives were blocked by sabotage from inside and outside. Fire fell into the hearts of many mothers, and Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood received great wounds. We have made a lot of effort to save our country and our Kurdish brothers from the scourge of terrorism.

"WE HAVE TAKEN HISTORIC STEPS"

-We have taken historic steps that we call a silent revolution, and we have dried up the feeding grounds of the terrorist organization. In this process, we also saw that while the terrorist organization was carrying out bloody acts, the opposition inside used these attacks ruthlessly to wear down the government. When the hope of getting rid of the scourge of terrorism arose, there were those who said let terrorism continue if necessary for them to solve it. Just like those who said 'Let the Bulgarian enter Edirne rather than Enver,' there were those who said to us that let terrorism continue in Turkey rather than this government ending it.

-We will never forget those who slandered the July 15th attempt as a controlled coup. The terrorist organization comes out and announces that it has dissolved itself and will lay down its arms, a window is opened for a page of betrayal to be completely closed, our citizens are dancing in the streets with joy saying we are getting rid of terrorism, and some are in mourning. They are almost begging the terrorist organization, crying 'don't leave us'.

"THE STATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE DOES NOT KNEEL AND HAS NOT KNEELED"

-The State of the Republic of Türkiye is a great state, it is a powerful state, it never kneels and has not knelt. Heavy prices were paid in 40 years, but this issue has now been put on a path to resolution. Our unitary structure, our flag, and our language are never a matter of debate. We are the first to oppose any touching of the fundamental qualities of our Republic. We will not allow the efforts for a Turkey without terrorism to be made difficult. Let no one have any anxiety, fear, or worry. We know very well what we are doing with Mr. Bahçeli. All cadres of our state know very well what they are doing. In our initiative for a Turkey without terrorism, we are also removing an obstacle in front of our country's prosperity and peace. A Turkey without terrorism will also most of all eliminate the obstacles in front of the economy.