President Erdoğan: Türkiye displays a firm stance both at home and abroad

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.

“WE REJECT IMPOSITIONS NOT ONLY IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS BUT ALSO IN FOREIGN POLICY”

“While the world is grappling with many problems from economic crises to wars and political turmoils, we as Türkiye display a firm stance both at home and abroad. Our experience and capacity in foreseeing global crises and taking the necessary measures, establishing the relevant mechanisms and boosting our resilience is appreciated by all,” the President said.

Recalling the grain shipment agreement and the war prisoner exchange deal between Russia and Ukraine, both brokered by Türkiye, President Erdoğan stated: “Continuing our dialogue with both of the parties in the Russia-Ukraine war, we have obtained many diplomatic achievements from grain shipment to war prisoner exchange. Over 5 million tons of grains have been exported thus far.”

Highlighting that Türkiye acts as a trustworthy and respected actor facilitating dialogue and producing solutions to problems despite those seeking to exclude Ankara from regional and global decision-making mechanisms, President Erdoğan went onto say: “Even though those who consider Türkiye as a guardian of their own interests are annoyed by this new state of affairs, we manage this process in a Türkiye-centered manner. As the government, we reject impositions not only in internal affairs but also in foreign policy.”

“OUR EFFORTS AIMED AT RESTORING PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE ARE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATED”

Pointing to his address to the UN General Assembly, President Erdoğan said: “I once again explained our views on issues concerning international peace and security, particularly the Russia-Ukraine crisis, to the whole world in my speech there. I drew attention to Türkiye’s mediating role in its region and across the world with many examples ranging from migration crisis to grain shipment. I openheartedly explained our country’s approaches to a wide range of issues including the fight against terror, the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, economic inequities and the UN’s structure. During our meetings and bilateral talks, I witnessed that our efforts aimed at restoring peace between Russia and Ukraine are particularly appreciated.”

Noting that he had bilateral meetings with various heads of state and government besides the UN Secretary-General on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, President Erdoğan said: “Our talks and meetings took place at the Turkevi, which we inaugurated last year and is located right across the UN headquarters. The Turkevi served along with the UN as a center where the global diplomacy’s heart beat this year.”

“WE ARE AWARE THAT THE REAL INTENTIONS OF THOSE WHO PROVOKE AND UNLEASH GREEK POLITICIANS AGAINST US ARE TO HINDER OUR PROGRAMME OF BUILDING UP A GREAT AND POWERFUL TÜRKİYE”

Thanking once again Russian and Ukrainian Presidents for lending support to Türkiye’s efforts, President Erdoğan said that Türkiye’s aim is to make the two leaders meet as soon as possible without further casualties and destruction, and bring an end to this war, and continued as follows: “While endeavoring sincerely to end wars, crises and tensions in the world, we closely follow our neighbor Greece’s policies full of provocation. As I always say, Greece is not and cannot be our equivalent or counterpart in political, military and economic terms. We are well aware that the real intentions of those who provoke and unleash Greek politicians against us are to hinder our programme of building up a great and powerful Türkiye by distracting our country’s time, energy and attention. However, it is a dangerous game both for Greek politicians, the Greek state and the Greek people and for those who use them as a puppet.”

“NEITHER MILITARY BUILDUPS NOR POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC SUPPORTS ARE ENOUGH TO ELEVATE GREECE TO OUR LEVEL”

Underscoring that the economic and political engagements, the price of which he noted will definitely be paid, actually threaten the Greek people, not Türkiye, President Erdoğan said: “As Türkiye we saw this movie in the past, closed the issue and drew ourselves a new path. Now, we as a neighbor are sincerely saddened that Greece is blatantly being dragged into a similar disaster. Neither those military buildups nor those political or economic supports are enough to elevate Greece to our level. However, these wrong steps are sufficient to drag Greece into a quagmire in every sense.”

“Lastly, it should be known well that we will never hesitate to use all the means in hand and defend our country’s rights and interests against Greece if need be. Yet, let me clearly point out that we will by no means compromise a bit our own political and economic goals while doing this,” the President added.

Pointing to Türkiye’s transportation investments, President Erdoğan said that with these projects Türkiye not only facilitate the lives of its own citizens but also ensures that the entire region, from Europe to Asia, gets connected in a fast, comfortable and economic manner, and noted: “It is thanks to the railways, bridges and tunnels we have built in our country that one can directly go to China from London by rail road. It is thanks to the logistic lines we have built from our Black Sea shores to the heart of Asia and Africa that the world overcomes many crises, the grain crisis in particular.”