Erdoğan's statement on 'public property': 'It is equivalent to treason'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the “Foundation Week 100th Year Special 201 Works Collective Opening Ceremony” at the Presidential Beştepe People's Congress and Culture Center.

Highlights from Erdoğan's speech:

"I CONGRATULATE ALL OUR INSTITUTIONS"

"Over the last 22 years, we have restored 5,500 works inherited from our ancestors. I thank our General Directorate of Foundations for taking the best care of the legacies of our ancestors.

We are constantly increasing the dosage of pressure to force the Israeli administration into a ceasefire. First, we imposed export restrictions on 54 products. As of last week, we have stopped all imports and exports with Israel, covering all products. We have also decided to intervene in the genocide case filed against Israel in The Hague. We will use all our means to ensure that those who have taken the lives of 35,000 of our brothers and sisters, 15,000 of whom are children, are held accountable before the law.

I believe that these decisions of ours will also instill courage in other countries that want the bloodshed in the region to stop. Our noble nation, which rushed to the aid of the Palestinian people during their most difficult days, has become the conscience of humanity in addition to fulfilling its duty of brotherhood. Even if some busybodies among us do not see this, or distort it despite seeing it, Turkey is one of the countries that has passed the Gaza test most successfully, with its state, citizens, and NGOs. AFAD, the Red Crescent, our General Directorate of Foundations, and our other volunteer organizations truly have a great share in this. I congratulate all our institutions that support the oppressed and the victims, no matter where they are in the world.

"THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSE"

I want to underline this point here; just as foundation works are a trust left to us by our ancestors and the founders, public property and public duty are also a trust of the nation. Public property and public duty, which are the rights of the orphan, can only be efficient, fruitful, and beneficial if they are fulfilled with such a high level of consciousness, and the responsibility is fully honored. A public official is tasked with, responsible for, and obligated to serve our citizens in matters related to their own responsibility or area of responsibility. There is absolutely no room for laziness, complacency, whims, or the irresponsibility of 'go today, come tomorrow' on the path of serving the nation. I always say, and I express it once again today; we owe all the positions we hold to our noble nation. No matter what position we are in, we are all responsible to our nation. Being arrogant towards the nation, looking down on them, acting like a master, or ignoring their problems is absolutely unacceptable. Especially, laying a hand on public property is, in our view, equivalent to treason. Politicians, public officials, and those in management positions can have no excuse for failing to fulfill their duties to the country and the nation. After failing to share in the nation's troubles and failing to find solutions to their problems and receive their prayers, any duty, whatever it may be, is a burden for a person. We are determined not to let our nation experience the scenes of the old Turkey again. We are aware of the complaints that have increased, especially in the recent period. We will, hopefully, deal with all the shortcomings, mistakes, and, if any, acts of treason we have identified much more decisively from now on. We will take every measure to ensure that public services are provided smoothly and flawlessly, and we will not allow bureaucratic inertia in any way."