Erdoğan's first statement on the cancelled Super Cup final: 'Sports should not be a tool for politics'

AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan spoke at the Necip Fazıl Awards Ceremony. Here, he made his first statement regarding the Super Cup crisis that took place in Saudi Arabia.

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Erdoğan's first statement on the cancelled Super Cup final: 'Sports should not be a tool for politics'

Regarding the Super Cup final that was postponed in Riyadh, Erdoğan said, "Regardless of the circumstances, football should not be a tool for politics."

Highlights from President Erdoğan's remarks:

-I also remember with mercy Mehmet Kısakürek, whom we bid farewell to eternity two months ago. We had come together with the late gentleman at the 40 Years 40 Works event.

-I also respectfully commemorate our dear Nuri Pakdil, our teacher Rasim Özdenören, and our teacher Nevzat Atlı, to whom we presented the Necip Fazıl Awards in past years. We understand the value of our culture and arts figures better in their absence. I believe that the new generations will pass on the legacy they have received to those who come after them in an even more beautiful way.

"HE WITNESSED MANY PERIODS OF TURKISH POLITICS"

-Master Necip Fazıl lived during the most painful period of Turkey in terms of politics and culture. He saw many wars, economic and political bottlenecks. He witnessed many periods of Turkish politics, from the single-party regime to the transition to a multi-party system. The chains placed on the door of Hagia Sophia weighed most heavily on the master.

-The master's struggle was to reunite the Turkish nation with its roots. This was his goal in all his works, where he kneaded the mortar with religious and philosophical maturity and the never-setting sun of the East. He was a man of great faith and cause. He never gave credence to impositions of discordant language. He defended Turkish by saying there is no homeland more defended than language.

"WE BROKE THE CHAINS"

-The master believed that only the younger generations could realize the ideals to which he had dedicated his entire life. He struggled for 30 years, was thrown into dungeons for this cause, and despite all obstacles, he strove to instill self-confidence in young people with the Great East (Büyük Doğu) magazine, which he published for 35 years.

-We broke the chains and restored Hagia Sophia to its original identity. I am infinitely grateful to my Lord for granting me the honor of ending the captivity of Hagia Sophia. Being the President who opened Hagia Sophia is the greatest honor for us.

Many assets next to Hagia Sophia were renovated during the time of the late Kadir Bey, but the current person in charge has unfortunately turned it into an empty ruin by stealing and removing many of the works there. And now we are restoring it again.

HE SPOKE ABOUT THE MARCH 31 ELECTIONS

-Nothing can be entrusted to them. They would even leave the country bare. When we arrived, Istanbul was full of trash, pits, and mud. But it is clear what kind of Istanbul we handed over to them, yet they have returned it to the same state again. That is why March 31 is very important. It is very important in terms of Istanbul and Turkey returning to its essence.

-As the government, we have ended the tutelage in politics with the decisive and firm steps we have taken in the last 21 years. We have brought Turkish politics to its most pluralistic structure in its history. But we have not yet been successful in ending the tutelage in the field of culture and arts. We see this in many debates about Turkey. They do not allow any criticism of the enemies of the country and the nation simply because they are close to their own thoughts. They do not compromise on human rights, but they do not say a single word for Gaza.

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-They try to legitimize Israel and the policies of today's Führer, Netanyahu. You see them setting the agenda left and right on behalf of coup plotters and tutelage supporters. Wherever there is an action against Turkey, they all take their place in the front ranks. We see these as the end of the cronyism they have established in our country's culture, arts, sports, and media circles.

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FIRST STATEMENT ON THE SUPER CUP CRISIS

-We want to express our sadness over the events that took place last night. We have not hesitated to take whatever steps were necessary, and we will not hesitate.

"We desire for Turkish sports to be on the agenda with successes, not with controversies. For whatever reason, it is wrong for sports to be made a tool for daily political competition.

The Republic is the common value of 85 million. Gazi Mustafa Kemal is the founder of this country."

We see the statements made by opposition parties as an abuse of politics. The words of those who walk arm in arm with those who said 'you are not the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal, you are his dogs' just yesterday have no importance.

The whole world knows how we protect the values of our country. If they are sincere, let them go and hold the terrorist organization accountable first.

News Source: 12punto