President Erdoğan speaks after Cabinet meeting: They are trying to play politics even on an issue like wildfires

The cabinet meeting chaired by President Erdoğan was held for the first time in the Ahlat district of Bitlis. Erdoğan is making statements following the Cabinet meeting that took place.

Highlights from Erdoğan's statements are as follows;

"We held our cabinet's 23rd meeting in Ahlat, the ancient city of glorious history rising from the tombs. With its cemeteries that are relics of the Seljuks and many other rare beauties, Ahlat is one of the keystones of the bridge we have built from the past to the future.

With today's historic cabinet meeting, held outside of Ankara for the first time in 21 years under our presidency, we have shown the importance we attach to Ahlat and Malazgirt.

I hope that from now on, we will continue our work in a multi-dimensional way to keep the spirit of Malazgirt alive and carry it to future generations.

We discussed the details of our Steel Dome projects.

In our 10th year in the presidential office, which we reached with the appreciation of our nation, we have brought another magnificent work to our country. We will see many more benefits of our Çukurova Airport, from tourism to the economy. I wish our Çukurova Airport to be auspicious and I congratulate those who contributed with all my heart.

Mahmud Abbas's messages in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) were listened to carefully by the world.

I once again respectfully salute the Palestinian people who heroically defend their lands. We believe that victory will sooner or later, but definitely, belong to our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

'FIRE RESPONSE TIME HAS DROPPED TO 11 MINUTES'

Forest fires have increased compared to last year. We have fought against the increasing fires with all our might. We have the strongest green homeland army in our history. We are one of the 2 countries that use UAVs in forest fires. The response time to fires has dropped to 11 minutes.

Local governments were very late in responding to fires within their areas of responsibility. There is no acceptable side to this. A fire or an earthquake does not have a party. Forests belong to all of us. We expect the opposition to abandon this distorted perspective that politicizes every issue as soon as possible.

'THOSE WHO NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE NATION ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS'

We are exposed to the lies and slander campaigns of the opposition. Fires were intervened in both from the air and from the ground. Every time a fire breaks out, our state fights not only against the flames but also against the fire of discord fueled by the opposition. Despite the planes and helicopters flying before their eyes, they said 'there are none.' They said the fire is not being intervened in. They made a lot of slanders that do not fit into morality.

The primary responsibility lies with local governments. Opposition municipalities are concerned with playing politics even during a fire. It is the local governments that need to be held accountable to the nation."

News Source: 12punto