President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements after the Cabinet Meeting held in Ankara. Erdoğan emphasized that the region at the center of which Turkey is located is going through the most difficult days of recent years.
Israel's aggression is taking a toll on the entire region
Erdoğan said the current Israeli government has become addicted to war, dragging the region into instability through provocations and intrigues. "Israel is gradually occupying Palestinian lands by disregarding basic human rights and violating international law. Israel's occupations, illegal settlements, and policies of exile, intimidation and oppression against Palestinians, both in the West Bank and Gaza, are the root cause of our region's problems," he said.
Erdoğan stated that the price of this aggression is being paid not only by Palestinian brothers and sisters and the Lebanese people, but by the entire region, including different faith groups.
Global energy shock and the Turkish economy
Noting that the conflicts in the region are causing one of the biggest shocks in global oil supply in history, Erdoğan said: "Unfortunately, not only oil but also the prices of many commodities, from natural gas to fertilizer, diesel fuel to petrochemical products, are rapidly rising in world markets."
Emphasizing that Turkey has successfully managed numerous shocks in a global conjuncture where a new crisis emerges every day, Erdoğan said: "Despite the conflicts in our region, the Turkish economy is standing firm on its feet. We are making special efforts to minimize the impact of war costs on our citizens."
The President added that the government is taking decisive steps to make Turkey a regional production, logistics, transit trade and technology center.
Goal of a terror-free Turkey
Erdoğan stated that when the process of building a terror-free Turkey reaches its goal, the country will be freed from a heavy economic burden. "When the obstacle of terror is removed, the Turkish economy will begin to make history in every field. With the support of parties that prioritize national interests over their own, we will carry this process through to the end," he said.
Emphasis on sovereign equality of Turkish Cypriots
President Erdoğan recalled that last week they proudly celebrated the 52nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation together with the Turkish Cypriots. "July 20, 1974, is a historic turning point that secured the existence, freedom and security of the Turkish Cypriot people. Acting within the framework of its guarantor rights and responsibilities arising from international agreements, Turkey put an end to the oppression suffered by Turkish Cypriots and played a leading role in establishing peace and stability on the island," he said.
Emphasizing that the Cyprus issue is not just about technical discussions on power-sharing between the two communities, but a matter of recognizing the sovereign equality and equal international status of Turkish Cypriots, Erdoğan said: "Therefore, no initiative that ignores the sovereign equality, indispensable rights and legitimate interests of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean can succeed."
Noting that UN Secretary-General Guterres being the first secretary-general to visit the island after 16 years is of great importance, Erdoğan said Turkey has always given and sincerely supports the secretary-general's peace efforts.
Erdoğan stated that they are closely following the steps of those trying to make Cyprus part of new military structures and geopolitical calculations, and said: "As throughout history, Turkey will not abandon its Turkish Cypriot brothers and will never allow the repetition of past suffering. Just as we solved the water problem of Turkish Cypriots in the past, we will continue to implement various projects, especially the undersea natural gas pipeline."
Fight against climate change and wildfires
President Erdoğan pointed out that the negative effects of the climate crisis, especially wildfires and drought, are increasingly felt around the world. He emphasized that Turkey has further strengthened its capacity to combat wildfires, in addition to reforesting burned areas.
Erdoğan said: "28,000 personnel, more than 140,000 volunteers, 28 firefighting aircraft, 119 helicopters, 14 unmanned aerial vehicles and nearly 6,000 land vehicles are on duty 24/7, especially these days." He reported that since the beginning of the year, teams quickly brought under control 2,873 fires, 1,011 of which were forest fires and 1,862 rural fires. He also said that as of today, a total of 90 fires broke out across the country, 59 of them in rural areas, and 81 of them have been fully brought under control.
Noting that 292,855 hectares have burned in forest fires in Europe since the beginning of the year, Erdoğan said Turkey also supports countries in need. Pointing out that the burned areas have more than doubled compared to the same period last year, Erdoğan announced that Turkey has sent two firefighting aircraft each to Spain and France, which are currently battling very severe fires.
