“We took an important step to stop the Gaza genocide”
Addressing the AK Party Directorate of Economic Affairs Training Programme, President Erdoğan said: “Yesterday, we took an important step to stop the Gaza genocide, the deepest wound bleeding for two years in our region. As leaders, we displayed a strong will in Sharm el-Sheikh. I hope that the quadripartite declaration we jointly signed will serve as a new milestone in the path to lasting peace in our region.”
President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the AK Party Directorate of Economic Affairs Training Programme in Ankara.
“WE ARE WORKING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY KEEP OUR COUNTRY AWAY FROM CONFLICTS, HEAL THE WOUNDS OF THE FEBRUARY 6 DISASTER, AND REACH OUR TARGETS IN ECONOMY”
“Global economy has not been able to recover fully from the trauma caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Broken rings of the trade chain have yet to be fixed in their entirety. Inflation, which for some time reached the last six or seven decades’ highest levels, as well as issues related to production and employment remain a headache for many countries. It is not possible to claim that inflation is no longer a cause for concern in many places, western countries included, as indeed indicated in the statements made. Even countries that have come a long way in fighting inflation do not let their guard down,” President Erdoğan said.
“To these one must add the hot conflicts taking place in our geography. We all know well the uneasiness in economy and in financial markets prompted by the Russia-Ukraine war, which nears its fourth year. Likewise, the tariffs tension that has been re-escalating in recent days between the U.S and China puts additional pressure on global economy. Amid such an atmosphere, we as Türkiye are working to simultaneously keep our country away from conflicts, heal the wounds of the February 6 disaster, and reach our targets in economy.”
“I HOPE YESTERDAY’S QUADRIPARTITE DECLARATION WILL SERVE AS A NEW MILESTONE IN THE PATH TO LASTING PEACE IN OUR REGION”
President Erdoğan continued: “Yesterday, we took an important step to stop the Gaza genocide, the deepest wound bleeding for two years in our region. As leaders, we displayed a strong will in Sharm el-Sheikh. I hope that the quadripartite declaration, which U.S. President Trump, President el-Sisi of Egypt, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim and I jointly signed, will serve as a new milestone in the path to lasting peace in our region. Praise be to Allah, today, children in Gaza are smiling, even if with a heavy heart. Aid workers are praying in gratitude. Mothers are able to let their children go out to the streets without the fear of bombs falling on top of them. Even seeing these alone is a source of joy for us.”
“While mentioning these, we for sure do not forget the following facts: It will most probably never be possible to remedy the devastation wrought by the genocide, which has left behind 68,000 martyrs, over 170,000 wounded, destroyed cities, devastated lives, and orphans. Those innocent kids will forever feel deep in their hearts the pain of their mothers, sisters and brothers brutally murdered right before their eyes.”
“WE, COLLECTIVELY, MUST HEAL PALESTINE’S WOUNDS AND REVIVE GAZA”
“It will probably take years to revive Gaza in its entirety. There is a reconstruction phase on one side, and a rehabilitation phase on the other side. Türkiye has an important part to play both in the reconstruction and rehabilitation phases. We will discuss this issue with the U.S. and Gulf states, and will jointly determine what steps to take. However, despite all this, we consider it very valuable that ceasefire has been established in Gaza following two years of suffering, atrocities and oppression. Now, we, collectively, must heal Palestine’s wounds, revive Gaza, and be a lifeline for our Gazan brothers and sisters. As Türkiye, we will endeavor in this direction and will monitor every stage of the process. We will strive to manage this process with patience, wisdom, sagacity and calm for the future of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” President Erdoğan stated.
“It is our wish to make sure this meaningful step taken yesterday shall be crowned with a lasting and just peace. Without doubt, the only way to this is through the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and territorially integral Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East al-Quds as its capital. I wholeheartedly believe we will see those beautiful days.”
“WE CONTINUE TO HEAL THE WOUNDS OF THE EARTHQUAKE AT FULL PACE”
President Erdoğan said: “We have started to see the consequences of the economic programme we implemented in the aftermath of the 2023 elections. We have obtained substantial outcomes in many areas, particularly in inflation. We undoubtedly have a long distance ahead to cover. As I always state, our number one priority is to eradicate the high cost of living. Despite obstacles outside our control such as drought, agricultural frost, and regional crises, we are determined to achieve our goals.”
“We continue to heal the wounds of the earthquake at full pace. As the state, we have expended 3.6 trillion Turkish liras, or 90 billion dollars, in current prices thus far. We handed over the keys of the 304,000th post-quake house to its beneficiaries last month in Malatya. We will inshallah have delivered 453,000 independent units by the end of 2025, thus having revived the whole of the area affected by the earthquake. What is more, we never compromise fiscal discipline while prioritizing these expenditures.”
“WITH THE ‘HOUSING PROJECT OF THE CENTURY’, WE WILL BUILD 500,000 SOCIAL HOUSES ACROSS OUR 81 CITIES”
President Erdoğan added: “We are also launching a very important project regarding the rents and house prices that are still high. From now on, the state will undertake the planning about the rents. We will not allow our citizens to be exploited through overpriced rents, with the state itself to rent out social houses on cheap prices. Through an initiative we call the ‘Housing Project of the Century’, we will build 500,000 social houses across our 81 cities. In the project, we will allocate special quotas for martyrs’ relatives, veterans, pensioners, families with three children, and citizens with disabilities. As part of this project, we will launch the ‘house on rent’ practice through TOKİ for the first time in Türkiye. Renting out some of the social houses to our citizens on favorable terms, we will particularly ease the burden of our families with low income. This housing project will strengthen our hand not only in social policies but also in fighting inflation, helping us in lowering inflation to single digits.”
