President Erdoğan: Those who leave a mark in space have a say on Earth

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements regarding the topics discussed at the cabinet meeting.

Here are the highlights from Erdoğan's statements:

Our space adventure, which began 32 years ago with the TÜRKSAT 1/B satellite, has reached levels that were once unimaginable. By working with faith and determination, we have signed our name to a historical success story where every sentence was written with experience and sweat. Every stage of this struggle is actually the story of the obstacles overcome in our country's politics of works and services. When we launched the TÜRKSAT 3/A satellite into space, some people taunted us with an arrogant attitude. By belittling the project and looking for flaws, they also showed what kind of mindset they possess. The satellite that was criticized that day has been serving our country for years.

"WE HAVE INCREASED OUR COUNTRY'S EXPLORATION CAPABILITIES FROM SPACE"

Last year, we put our first domestic and national communication satellite, TÜRKSAT 6'A, into service. The number of our communication satellites has risen to 6, and our total number of satellites has reached 10. With our GÖKTÜRK 1 and 2 satellites, we have increased our country's exploration capabilities from space. When we look at the events around us, we can see this very clearly. The prominent characteristic of the age we live in is information, knowledge, and data. Without exception, all states are in intense competition to adapt to the information age. Large companies are also trying to have a say in this field.

As Turkey, we are also striving to take the place we deserve in this race. We are one of the 11 countries capable of producing its own communication satellite. Work on our İMECE 2 and İMECE 3 satellites and GÖKTÜRK 3 continues. Our TÜRKSAT 7/A project will strengthen our secure communication infrastructure. Satellite technologies have a multiplier effect on the power components of countries. Satellites play a strategic role in many fields, from intelligence, communication, and the defense industry to mapping. The maxim that 'those who leave a mark in space have a say on Earth' is more than a preference for Turkey; it is a necessity.

"WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PRIDE OF ADDING NEW INVESTMENTS"

While carrying out preparations for projects that will leave a mark on Turkey's next quarter and half-century, we continue our politics of service and works. We have experienced the pride of adding new investments to Turkey and our cities. We are not leaving our beloved Istanbul to its fate. We continue to improve the transportation infrastructure of Istanbul, where people are forced to sleep in their cars so as not to be late for work. The metro project with 16 stations and a length of 69 kilometers is one of these. With the Halkalı-Arnavutköy section, which we officially opened on June 19, we have, thank God, completed this important project.

Thanks to the new line, travel times between the settlements on the route have decreased significantly. While saving 117 million hours of time, it will contribute 953 million Euros to our economy. Currently, the construction of two separate lines is ongoing. With the completion of these lines, the length of the rail systems built in Istanbul will reach 191 kilometers.

"WE ARE THE 11TH LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IN DEFENSE EXPORTS"

In addition to transportation, we are not standing idle in the field of the defense industry. In the current world order, where the understanding of 'the devil take the hindmost' prevails, we are preparing ourselves against all kinds of scenarios. We are the 11th largest country in the world in defense exports. As in other fields, we are experiencing the brightest days of our history in military shipbuilding. We have exported over 140 naval platforms to all corners of the world. On June 20, we once again witnessed the level of pride reached by Turkish maritime industry.

For the first time in our history, we exported a warship to a NATO and EU member country. On June 23, we discussed many issues, including cooperation in the defense industry, with the President of Poland, whom we hosted at our Presidential Complex. We had already reached our previously set trade volume target of 10 billion dollars; we have increased our new target to 15 billion dollars. Our contracting firms have undertaken projects worth 9 billion dollars in Poland. I believe this figure will increase even further.

"WE DO NOT TAKE THE SLANDERS OF THE MURDER NETWORK REGARDING OUR COUNTRY SERIOUSLY"

We are members of a nation that is great with its history and great with its conscience. For centuries, we have held the hands of those who fell, rushed to the aid of those in trouble, and opened our doors to those who took refuge in our country. We do not take the slanders of the murder network, which has the blood of 73 thousand innocent Gazans, mostly children and women, on its hands, regarding our country seriously in the slightest. In our history, there is no oppression, no massacre, no colonialism, and no genocide. In our glorious history, there is compassion. There is reaching out to all the oppressed regardless of their religion, origin, or identity. There is the virtue of protecting those fleeing the Inquisition and Nazi persecution.

We are a cadre that does not engage in politics in areas of conflict, tension, and strife, but rather around the common values of the nation. We speak the same language as our people, communicate with the same language of the heart, and look at the same horizon. Our origin, sect, disposition, and lifestyle may be different. But as 86 million, we are all citizens of the same state, members of the same nation, and children of the same homeland. We are all patterns of the same rug. Whatever our name may be, our surname is the Republic of Turkey. From the first day we took over the responsibility of governing Turkey, we have not separated any of our people from another.

"WE HAVE PROVIDED 800 MILLION LIRA IN SUPPORT FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF 695 CEMEVIS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS"

We have been particularly interested in our Alevi fellow citizens with sincerity. We have implemented reforms that were not even on the agenda before. We have paved the way for everyone to express their own identity and to live their culture and faith freely. In the last 3 years, we have provided 800 million lira in support for the maintenance and repair of 695 cemevis. By the end of the year, we will provide maintenance, repair, and furnishing services to 500 cemevis. We have met all the needs of 113 cemevis in our earthquake region. We will soon conclude the restoration and construction works of 13 destroyed and heavily damaged cemevis.

"THE MAIN OPPOSITION HAS DEPARTED FROM REASONABLE GROUND"

Politics cannot be done by racing pains, dividing our people, and chasing exploitation to score points against a rival in an intra-party power struggle. It is extremely wrong for the conflict within the main opposition party to move away from reasonable ground and evolve into a 'no punches pulled in a fight' mentality. It is even more wrong that our Alevi fellow citizens are wanted to be used in this. The most beneficial thing the main opposition party can do, if they truly have the courage, is to reckon with their own bad track record. No one should engage in politics over the sensitivities of our Alevi citizens, and especially should not attempt to exploit them.

We will not turn a blind eye to the erosion, wounding, or weakening of our 1,000-year-old brotherhood. We will neither give credit to nor allow such politics. On this occasion, I would like to thank our fellow citizens once again with whom we shared the 'lokma' (food) at the breaking of the fast during the month of Muharram and with whom we shared the same table of affection. I hope that the fasts kept and the prayers offered, which our Prophet described as 'the month of Allah,' will be accepted. I commemorate Hz. Hussein and his 72 companions with mercy and respect on the 1387th anniversary of their martyrdom.

News Source: 12punto