President Erdoğan: We are making intense efforts to stop the war

Speaking at the "Iftar with MKYK Members, Party Boards, Ankara Provincial Organization, and District Heads" program in Ankara, Erdoğan stated, "We share the pain of the Iranian people. We are making intense efforts through diplomatic contacts to stop the war."

Here are the highlights from President Erdoğan's remarks:

We are in the field with our full staff, including our deputies, women's branches, youth branches, and local administrations. While sharing the blessings of iftar and suhoor with our citizens at home, we do not neglect our brothers and kin living abroad.

From Aleppo to Sarajevo, from Varna to Prizren, we are experiencing the joy of Ramadan together everywhere our brothers, with whom our hearts beat in unison, are located.

I see that our Ankara organization is also striving with great sincerity to reach every district, every neighborhood, and every household in our city.

As I always say, our fundamental mission is to be with our citizens at all times and in all places, to be in harmony and share their troubles. If we can heal wounds, provide remedies for problems, generate solutions to issues, and receive the prayers of our nation; then we are fulfilling our duty properly and doing justice to the position we hold.

We do not have the chance, nor the luxury, to stop, pause, or become complacent. We cannot lower our standards by looking at the lack of vision of the opposition. We can never allow the tempo to drop. We must constantly increase the tempo and raise the bar a little higher each time.

Therefore, we will continue to run. We will touch more hearts. We will hold the hands of more of our people. Without stopping, without resting, and without making any distinctions, we will continue to embrace all 86 million with affection.

"I WISH CONDOLENCES TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE"

My dear fellow travelers and comrades, on Saturday, attacks that clearly violate international law were added against our neighbor, Iran. In the attacks, many Iranians, including civilian and military officials as well as innocent children, lost their lives. Among those mentioned were also references to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

I pray for God's mercy upon our Iranian brothers who lost their lives and extend my condolences to the Iranian people on behalf of myself and my nation. As their neighbors and brothers, we sincerely share the pain of the Iranian people. We feel deep sorrow in the face of this picture where civilians and innocent people who have no sin bear the burden of the conflicts.

As you know, as Turkey, we have shown intense effort from the very first day to find solutions to disputes through diplomatic channels; we will continue our efforts for peace and stability from now on.

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY OUR CONTACTS AT EVERY LEVEL"

In addition to conveying our get-well wishes to our brothers in the Gulf, we discussed in detail how we can stop the war and how we can reduce the tension. We will continue to intensify our contacts at every level until a ceasefire is established and calm prevails in our region again.

My dear brothers, I find it useful for everyone to know this: As a nation, we want for our neighbor what we want for ourselves. At no period in our history have we remained indifferent to the fire in our neighbors' homes. We have pursued a principled, honorable, and peaceful policy that centers on human life.

Everyone knows how sincerely we have fought for regional peace and stability for 23 years, and what a constructive and balanced stance we have adopted in international politics. The justification for these efforts, which we have carried out without expecting anything in return, is understood much better today.

We are on the side of peace. We want blood not to be shed and tears to dry. We desire that our region finally attains the lasting peace it has longed for for years. Especially in this blessed month of Ramadan, we do not want to see conflict, war, tension, and massacres right next to us.

Our stance against the illegal attacks targeting Iran is in this direction. Iran is our neighbor. The Iranian people, with whom we have been at peace since 1639, are our brothers, just like other peoples in the region.

Our priority is to ensure a ceasefire and open the door to dialogue. If the necessary intervention is not made, the conflict process will have very serious consequences in terms of regional and global security. No country can bear the economic and geopolitical uncertainties that such a picture would create. Therefore, it is essential to extinguish the fire before it grows any further.

Of course, in this sensitive process, we are also taking all measures regarding the security of our country and our citizens. We are not ignoring any possibility; we are carefully analyzing every development and examining and evaluating every incident down to the finest detail. Our security and intelligence units are following the developments on the ground with extreme meticulousness.

We are fulfilling exactly what is required of the state and what responsibility falls upon us so that not a single member of the 86 million is harmed.

From here, I also address all our citizens along with my organization: Let our nation continue to trust us, to trust its state. The Republic of Turkey is by its nation's side under all circumstances and has the power, will, and means to protect the rights of its nation.

News Source: 12punto