After the Security Summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements during the reception of the International Democrats Union delegation in Beştepe. Erdogan announced that they rejected the Russian operation in Ukraine.
The highlights of Erdogan’s speech are as follows:
“I would like to start by stating that we find unacceptable the military life that Russia started on Ukrainian soil earlier today and we reject it. It is a heavy blow to the peace, tranquility and stability of the region.
We sincerely regret the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, as we see both as friendly countries. I conveyed to Mr. Zelenski that I support Turkey’s struggle to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. We remind you that the negotiations should continue within the framework of the Minsk Agreement.
“TURKEY IS A EUROPEAN COUNTRY SINCE THE OTTOMAN”
I am pleased to have a chat with you, my dear brothers and sisters from 17 European countries who visited our complex.
I consider it important that our citizens, who cling to their roots, history and values of civilization, show the same will as the land they live in. Turkey has been a European country since the first century of the Ottoman Empire.
Today, beyond our historical and social ties, we form an inseparable part of the European continent with our region. There is nothing more natural than the participation of our homeland living in Europe in political, social and economic activities. The efforts of some circles to exclude our country are definitely malicious.
“WE SHOULD EMBRACE OUR CITIZENS”
I want you to instill the self-confidence and enthusiasm of our citizens to exist all over Europe, to show themselves. While maintaining our bond of love with our motherland Anatolia, we should embrace and embrace Europe with all its cities.
The more you expand your roof, the more successfully you can fulfill the mission of delivering these messages to our citizens and organizing them.
We cannot leave any of our citizens to marginal organizations. We will disrupt the games of structures such as the PKK and FETO, aimed at dividing our people through discrimination of origin and sect. Every space left vacant by our people, who are loyal to their country, nation, history and culture, is filled by these groups. No matter who is behind them, the Turkish nation with its 85 million individuals is behind you.
HEALTH SERVICE
Turkey is no longer the old Turkey. Now, there is a Turkey that is there for any of our citizens, for whatever reason, wherever they need it in the world. In the coming period, we will continue to provide these services more widely and strongly.
One of the most concrete examples of Turkey’s protection of its citizens is health services. We run to our citizens who need health support all over the world. Recently, we transferred 231 citizens in 2020, 169 citizens in 2021, and 27 citizens this year.
We have ensured that similar services are offered to our citizens in every field. Consular services, which reached 2 million transactions per year, exceeded 3 million last year. Many countries have requested help from us for the IT infrastructure.
RACISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA
Advocacy is also the main tool in Europe. First of all, we should own our own issues and tell them to everyone through the media, NGOs and individual relations. We should be with our brothers who are exposed to attacks and harassment only because of their Muslim identity. We should not pull ourselves back in any area, we should fight harder and get over the wave of racism.
We see that the game played on Bektashis and Alevis is intended to be extended to all Muslims. When we strengthen the unity between us, we will become a community that no state or party in Europe can ignore, and that has no power over it.
We must end the division in Europe by making our citizens aware of the power that will come from unity. As always, we will be with you from now on.”
