President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at his Party's GNAT Group Meeting

 

Addressing AK Party’s parliamentary group meeting, President Erdoğan said: “We will support the fight against inflation not only with demand-oriented policies but also with supply-oriented measures in areas like food and housing. We are hopeful that we will accomplish our inflation targets in 2025.”

President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the party’s parliamentary group meeting.

“WE BROKE THE REPUBLICAN ERA’S HISTORY IN 2024 WITH 262 BILLION DOLLARS IN EXPORTS”

Drawing attention to the good news coming from economy since the first days of the new year, President Erdoğan said: “We broke the Republican era’s history with 262 billion dollars in exports, which increased by 2.5 percent compared to the previous year. One of the figures that brought us the biggest joy was the all-time high of 7.154 billion dollars in our defense exports, which saw a 29 percent increase compared to 2023. Our tourism statistics will be announced at the end of this month. We hope to see a similar picture in tourism as well that will make us happy.”  

President Erdoğan continued: “Our labor market maintains its strong outlook, with our unemployment rate remaining at single-digit figures for the past 19 months. Decreasing by 0.1 percentage point in November 2024 compared to the previous month, and by 0.4 percentage point compared to November 2023, the unemployment rate stood at 8.6 percent. We achieved our history’s best level with 6.6 percent in men. Creating employment for 986 thousand people over the past year, we have increased our employment number to 32.748 million people. These are both pleasing and promising developments. It is especially praiseworthy that we have achieved all this despite the hot conflicts in our region and the uncertainties in global markets.”

“WE WILL ACCOMPLISH OUR INFLATION TARGETS IN 2025”

President Erdoğan stated: “We emphasize the importance we attach to combatting inflation at every opportunity. We see the start of a downward trend in inflation, our greatest headache. The disinflation process, which started in June, continues at the moment. Annual inflation in December dropped by more than 31 percentage points to 44.4 percent. The decline in inflation in goods items is quite visible; yet, there is still a high inertia in the services sector. We are witnessing a similar situation across the world, as well. As the government, we are undertaking the necessary interventions to break this inertia, and will continue to do so. We will support the fight against inflation not only with demand-oriented policies but also with supply-oriented measures in areas like food and housing. An example of this is the social housing project we have been working on for some time now. As the construction works of post-quake houses are completed, our hand will be stronger. We are hopeful that we will accomplish our inflation targets in 2025. In parallel to the decline in inflation, our people’s purchasing power will also increase and their problems will further alleviate. Showing a little more patience, we will preserve our determined stance and will ultimately win together as the 85 million.”

“THE TERMINATION OF 61 YEARS OF THE BAATHIST OPPRESSION IN OUR NEIGHBOR SYRIA WAS A MAGNIFICENT DEVELOPMENT”

Touching upon the developments in Syria, President Erdoğan said: “2024 was a year of critical developments both in our region and across the world. The termination of 61 years of the Baathist oppression in our neighbor Syria was a magnificent and tremendous development that left its mark on the past year. Our Syrian brothers and sisters finally liberated themselves from Assad and the Baath regime, who had murdered his own people with chemical weapons, barrel bombs, cluster bombs, torture and hunger for 13 years. Not only Aleppo, Damascus, Hama, Homs, but the entire Syrian people, including all segments, achieved the freedom they have been longing for following 61 years of tyranny.”

Underscoring Türkiye’s support for the restoration of stability in Syria and the establishment of a system that embraces all Syrians, President Erdoğan noted: “Following the revolution, our MİT Director and Foreign Minister visited Damascus. Also, the Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Intelligence Head of the transitional government are set to visit our country today and we will come together. We are cooperating with both the liberation government, the Arab world, and the international community in order for Syria to recover as soon as possible.”

“WE ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS”

“The aggressive actions of the forces attacking the Syrian territory, Israel, in particular, must come to an end as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will cause unfavorable outcomes for everyone,” President Erdoğan warned.

Urging for ceasefire in Palestine, President Erdoğan added: “With the establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza, where genocide and massacres have been ongoing for 15 months, an important opportunity for lasting peace and stability in the entire region will arise. We are closely following the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and we hope to receive positive news as soon as possible.”

“IF THERE IS REALLY A FEAR OF DAESH THREAT IN SYRIA AND THE REGION, THE GREATEST POWER WITH THE WILL AND CAPABILITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS TÜRKİYE”

President Erdoğan went onto say: “It is high time for those seeking to divide the country through artificial ethnic tension scenarios to revise their rhetoric and on whose behalf they are working because currently, the most serious issue in Syria is the YPG terrorist organization, which still occupies almost one-third of the country's territory. The YPG terrorist organization, which usurps Syria’s natural resources as well, will not be able to escape a bitter end unless it dissolves itself and lays down weapons. Like every segment in Syria, we are pursuing and supporting the resolution of all the issues of our Kurdish brothers and sisters, and we assure the security of the Kurds.”  

President Erdoğan added: “When it comes to such excuses as DAESH, a product of project, they no longer hold any persuasive aspect. If there is really a fear of DAESH threat in Syria and the region, the greatest power with the will and capability to address this issue is Türkiye. Everyone should take their hands off the region. We will crush the heads of DAESH, YPG, and other terrorist organizations in a short time together with our Syrian brothers.”