President Erdoğan spoke at the opening ceremony of Mor Efrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church

 

Addressing the opening ceremony of Istanbul Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, President Erdoğan said: “Those knowledgeable about the history of the Middle East can clearly see the fact that the Palestinian issue lies at the essence of all the current problems in our region. Peace will remain elusive in our region unless this issue is settled in a just manner. Permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if the Palestine-Israel issue is solved once and for all.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the opening ceremony of Istanbul Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church in Yeşilköy, Istanbul.

“I am pleased to be with you during the opening ceremony of Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, for which we broke ground with you in 2019. I wish the church may be auspicious for the Syriac community, and congratulate those who put efforts for its opening in Istanbul, an epitome of tolerance and peace,” said the President.

“TÜRKİYE HAS EXEMPLARY EXPERIENCE IN ACCOMMODATING MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND FAITHS PEACEFULLY THROUGHOUT CENTURIES”

President Erdoğan stated: “Türkiye has exemplary experience in accommodating members of different cultures and faiths peacefully throughout centuries. Our faith, which regards human beings as the most honorable of the created, commands us to be always fair and act equitably. Likewise, our civilization pays no regard to the identity of the oppressed or the oppressor. It is our duty to stand up to the oppressor and to stand with the oppressed, regardless of their name, faith or allegiance.”

Touching on the recent developments in the Middle East, President Erdoğan said: “Those knowledgeable about the history of the Middle East can clearly see the fact that the Palestinian issue lies at the essence of all the current problems in our region. Peace will remain elusive in our region unless this issue is settled in a just manner. Permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if the Palestine-Israel issue is solved once and for all.”

“THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN INDEPENDENT STATE OF PALESTINE, WITH AL-QUDS AS ITS CAPITAL, BE ESTABLISHED CAN NO LONGER BE DELAYED”

Underscoring the importance of the preservation of a two-state perspective for the solution of the issue, President Erdoğan noted: “The requirement that an independent and geographically-integrated State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with al-Quds as its capital, be established can no longer be delayed. However, efforts to divide al-Quds, space- and time-wise, as well as harassments targeting al-Haram al-Sharif, are increasing day by day. As Türkiye, we have voiced our reactions and objections regarding this topic at every opportunity. We have never refrained from speaking what is right and telling the bitter truth even when the entire world has fallen silent.”

President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “While we have always stood in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we have also underscored that steps which could escalate the tension, cause further bloodshed and aggravate the problems in the region should be avoided. We have diligently worked through our relevant institutions to alleviate the hardships faced by the people of Gaza due to the blockade. Today as well, we act by the principle that ‘there are no losers in a just peace.’ The establishment of tranquility, lasting peace, and stability in the region through the solution of the Palestinian issue according to the international law is the top issue we focus on during our talks with our counterparts. Unfortunately, Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the entire region, pay the price for the delay in delivering justice. Particularly the suffering and death of innocent children and of babies in their cradles wound the hearts of all of us.” 

President Erdoğan further stressed: “Adding fuel to the fire will benefit no one, including civilians on both sides. Türkiye is ready to do its part to the best of its capacity to end the fighting as soon as possible and alleviate the heightened tension due to the recent incidents. We are determined to increasingly maintain the diplomatic efforts we are engaged in to restore calm. We also invite all the influential actors in the region to sincerely contribute to peace.”