The Conquest of Istanbul: Before looking at İmamoğlu, you should look at this map!..

Ekrem İmamoğlu and the Istanbul operation have turned into the biggest mine discovered by the AKP-MHP.

Thanks to the operations that have been carried out uninterruptedly since March 19, we are unable to discuss the economy that is devastating the nation, the encirclement in foreign policy from Syria to Greece, or the fact that the Republic of Turkey has been brought to the negotiating table with the terrorist leader in İmralı.

Yesterday was the 572nd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul. Our officials issued consecutive congratulatory messages and commemorated Fatih Sultan Mehmet Han and his army, who gifted this victory to our nation, with gratitude.

He Threatened 46 Days Ago

Let us share other hot notes regarding Istanbul.

It was mid-April; speaking at a forum, Greek Chief of General Staff Dimitrios Houpis claimed that "Turkey poses a threat to his country" and that "Ankara is trying to create new disputes every day with revisionist tactics," before stating that "the Greek Armed Forces are ready to respond to any threat within five minutes." Following this, he announced a new armament program and called on young people to choose military schools.

Our media described these statements by Houpis as "Scandalous... Aggressive... Arrogant... Disturbing."

Our Ministry of National Defense, or rather, MSB sources, also responded to the Greek Chief of General Staff.

According to our media, the "harsh reaction" and "slap-like" response from MSB sources to those scandalous words consisted of nothing more than this:

"Do not expect us to respond to statements that even they themselves do not believe in the reality of, and which make them look ridiculous."

Invited to Istanbul Four Days Later

Just four days after this response, the MSB announced that the 18th Balkan Countries Chiefs of General Staff Conference would be held in Istanbul on May 28.

Among the participants was the Greek Chief of General Staff, Houpis.

The host, Chief of General Staff General Metin Gürak, said the following in summary during his opening speech at the meeting:

"This conference has become an important platform that strengthens cooperation between our armed forces. Ensuring regional security in the face of complex threats such as terrorism, proxy wars, disruptive technologies, climate change, and irregular migration has become more difficult than ever. Therefore, close cooperation between countries is of vital importance... In a period when security risks are diversifying and deepening, solidarity and cooperation will provide a broad perspective that will set an example for other countries as well."

In the joint declaration text signed at the end of the meeting, which Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz also attended and spoke at during the third session, it was decided that the next conference would be held in Athens.

Let us note that while General Gürak held trilateral meetings with the Chiefs of General Staff of Bulgaria and Romania, and bilateral meetings with the Chiefs of General Staff of Serbia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the meeting, he did not hold any meetings with Houpis.

He Came to That "Constantinople"

Our main subject is the program of Greek Chief of General Staff Houpis outside of this meeting and the expressions he used.

He arrived in Istanbul one day before the meeting, on May 27. According to the posts made on the website and social media account of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, he did the following:

He visited the Greek Consulate General in "Constantinople"...

He was received by "Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew"...

Moreover, he presented a very remarkable map, which evokes the Megali Idea, to Patriarch Bartholomew, a Turkish citizen who is the head of the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which is a Turkish institution affiliated with the Fatih District Governorship according to the Treaty of Lausanne...

Look at what happened just two days before the anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul!..

But unfortunately, there is no one to see, no one to notice, and no one who cares.

Here is the statement made by MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, who has been made the representative of the "state mind" beyond being a partner of the government, on the occasion of the conquest of Istanbul:

"We celebrate the 572nd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, where dark curtains are wanted to be drawn over its bright horizon and where insidious efforts are observed to make it fall behind history, with justifiable pride. Istanbul is the crown jewel, the throne of the heart, and the tableau of pride of Turkish-Islamic civilization and Turkey. Unfortunately, the authors of political and ideological destruction, who have not been able to accurately understand or grasp the spirit and consciousness of the conquest with their will, have lined up to take revenge on the magnificent victory of 572 years ago. However, all despicable efforts are in vain." After saying this, one would expect him to react to the increasingly accelerating "Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarchate" calculations of Greece and other foreign powers, right?

Not a chance!.. He brought the subject to "Istanbul being condemned to a deep and tough spiral of theft, bribery, and corruption," and said that this was "a great wound that hurts the national heart" and that "Istanbul has been deprived of safe and competent hands."

What if we asked, "Is Istanbul the only thing that has been 'deprived of safe and competent hands'?"

Müyesser YILDIZ

May 30, 2025