President Erdoğan addresses journalists’ questions on return flight from Azerbaijan

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists’ questions on the return flight to Türkiye after attending the 12th Summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Azerbaijan.

President Erdoğan reminded that the Turkic States Cooperation Day was celebrated on October 3 and stated:

"Thus, we have marked the 16th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Agreement, which laid the foundation of our Organisation. In a relatively short period, this exceptional institution, which we consider our family council, has achieved remarkable progress. While strengthening its institutional framework, our organisation has also made the common vision of the Turkic world more visible on a global scale. At today’s summit, we discussed an extensive agenda encompassing our sectoral, humanitarian, and cultural cooperation, as well as foreign policy. Alongside the institutional integration process of the Turkic world, we also addressed steps to enhance cooperation with other countries and international organisations. We decided to create a new format called “Organisation of Turkic States Plus” to further reinforce our Organisation’s role as an international actor. In the Gabala Declaration, we formally documented our decision to initiate cooperation in the field of critical minerals, as well as matters related to the defence industry, energy, and connectivity. The declaration was crafted with a clear focus on the summit’s theme of regional peace and security. In the declaration, we expressed our collective perspectives on key foreign policy matters, encompassing the stability processes in Gaza, Syria, and the South Caucasus. We have also instructed our Foreign Ministers to convene on a more frequent basis to address regional and global developments."

"We are witnessing that the TRNC has increasingly expanded its direct contacts with the member states of the organisation."

President Erdoğan stated that they participated via live connection in the ground-breaking ceremony of the mosque to be built in Fuzuli with the partnership of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, and noted that Turkmenistan’s admission as an observer member to the Turkic Academy and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation marked a new phase in completing the family photo.

Emphasising the great importance they place on ensuring the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is represented at the highest level it deserves within the organisation, President Erdoğan said, "We are witnessing that the TRNC, since obtaining observer country status in 2022, has increasingly expanded its direct contacts with the member states of the organisation. As we did at our Budapest Summit in May, we reiterated in the Gabala Summit declaration the solidarity of the Turkic world to secure the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriots. We have also enacted the necessary regulation to implement the decision regarding the observer membership of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the Turkic Academy."

"Next year, we will serve as the term president"

President Erdoğan stated that during the meetings held on the sidelines of the summit, he had the opportunity to discuss global and regional issues on the agenda with his counterparts, and added:

"Our organisation is also making strides towards becoming a global actor with its increasing international visibility, expanding influence, and strengthened foundations for cooperation. On this path, we will further institutionalise and diversify our cooperation and enhance the global influence of our organisation. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Kyrgyzstan on completing its term presidency of the Organisation of Turkic States and to commend Azerbaijan for hosting this successful summit. Next year, we will serve as the term president and, inshallah, organise the summit in Türkiye. On this note, I hope that the 12th Summit of our Family Council will lead to auspicious outcomes for the Turkic world, as well as all our friendly and brotherly nations."

"Where there is risk, precaution will inevitably follow"

Upon being asked a question by a press member, "There are major tensions in the world. There is a risk that these tensions could escalate into a global conflict. In this context, some countries have entered into defence agreements. Are additional defence and security measures feasible within the Organisation of Turkic States? President Erdoğan stated the following:

"First of all, the Organisation of Turkic States is no longer merely a cultural union. It is a strategic solidarity platform. As global tensions impact everyone, they also directly concern member states of the Organisation of Turkic States. Due to their proximity to conflict zones, it can be said that our family council experiences these tensions more acutely than other countries globally. Therefore, where there is risk, precaution will inevitably follow. Nonetheless, we are fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise. We are discussing a multifaceted cooperation, ranging from intelligence and border security to cyberspace. There is a noticeable global trend towards heightened defence spending and progress in security measures. As members of the Organisation of Turkic States, we are also moving in this direction. Further steps can be thoroughly discussed and implemented as needed." 

"Our colleagues are in Sharm el-Sheikh"

In response to the question, "Regarding your meeting with US President Donald Trump upon your return from the UN visit, you said, 'We explained the steps that need to be taken first towards a ceasefire and then towards a lasting peace with regard to Gaza and Palestine.' And progress followed soon after. Last Friday, Donald Trump set a deadline for Hamas. Afterwards, he held a phone conversation with you. What were Türkiye's ways of persuading both the USA and Hamas in this process?" President Erdoğan replied:

"All Palestinians know that Türkiye safeguards and advocates for Palestine's interests. We defend the rights of the oppressed in Gaza, as well as the rights of our brothers and sisters in other parts of Palestine, as if they were our own. We have been striving for years to end the bloodshed in Gaza and ensure the security of the oppressed."

"We have always maintained our contact with Hamas throughout this process. We continue to remain in contact. President Erdoğan stated, "We are explaining the most reasonable course of action and the necessary steps for Palestine to move forward into the future confidently," and continued:

"Our colleagues are currently in Sharm el-Sheikh. They have been there all day, and as of tomorrow morning, they will begin the meetings. During both our visit to the United States and our most recent phone conversation, we explained to President Trump the ways in which a resolution in Palestine could be attained. He, in turn, specifically asked us to speak with Hamas and help persuade them. We promptly contacted our counterparts regarding the matter. I informed President Trump that we support his peace efforts, and we have also made this public. Hamas, in its response, stated that it is ready for peace and negotiations. In other words, they did not adopt a contradictory stance. In my opinion, this is a highly valuable step. Hamas is taking the lead over Israel. Why do I say this? Because Hamas has suffered such heavy losses—over 100,000 injured. Everywhere they stayed was completely destroyed. Now, they do not even have anywhere to take refuge. We have not seen, nor do we see at present, Israel displaying similar and constructive attitudes. Neither do we expect such a stance from them. We will strive to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue based on a two-state solution. We hope that, inshallah, we will succeed with the support you provide as well."

In response to the question, “A hope for peace has emerged for Gaza. They accepted the peace plan proposed by US President Trump. Now, looking at that peace plan, two international bodies stand out. One is a Peace Council positioned above the interim government of Palestine, and the other is an International Stabilisation Force for security. You say in every speech, 'We will support Gaza and all the efforts made for it.' Will Türkiye be able to participate in these two international bodies—the Peace Council and the International Stabilisation Force? Will Turkish troops be deployed to Gaza?'' President Erdoğan replied, “Our priority is the immediate establishment of a comprehensive ceasefire. We must achieve this first. It is essential that humanitarian aid is delivered to Gaza without interruption as soon as possible.''

President Erdoğan highlighted the prompt restoration of Gaza's infrastructure, which Israeli attacks had destroyed, as one of his top priorities, saying, "We are conducting intensive diplomatic efforts for this.  It is crucial that Gaza remains the land of the Palestinian people. Ultimately, it is also vital that Gaza is governed by the Palestinians themselves.''

Underscoring that the methods for ensuring security and the way the stabilisation force would be established and operated can be discussed in detail, President Erdoğan stated, ''For this reason, I place utmost importance on the negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh. Meetings have started today, but tomorrow’s discussions are crucial. Our Director of the National Intelligence Organisation will also attend. The outcome of these discussions is of great significance. When I say, 'We support every effort,' it is with full consideration of all possible scenarios. We hope Israel keeps its promises and does not take any steps that would sabotage this peace. While we are hopeful for a lasting ceasefire and peace, we are equally cautious.''

''The flotilla has made the unlawful blockade visible''

In response to the question, “You brought 36 Turks and 137 activists from the Sumud Flotilla to our country. The foreign activists thanked Türkiye as they disembarked from the plane. Here, Türkiye’s global power became even more evident. We observe that our country is effective and competent in all regional matters, holding a balanced position. How should we interpret the next phase?” President Erdoğan stated:

“The group you mentioned was the first stage. During the second stage, we brought a total of 16 people from Israel, 14 of whom are Turkish citizens. They went to Jordan, and from there they arrived in İstanbul. In other words, we retrieved the Sumud groups in Israel in two separate batches. This flotilla has made the unlawful blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza visible, which is why it is critical. They managed to bring ships carrying only humanitarian aid as far as Gaza’s territorial waters, thereby breaking the blockade. In my view, this is the most important aspect of their success. From the very moment the Sumud Flotilla set sail, we, as Türkiye, closely monitored the process with our drones (UAVs) and naval vessels. For example, on Sunday, based on the footage obtained by our Akıncı drones, I tracked the Sumud Flotilla almost from morning until evening, observing where it was, what it was doing, and its overall status.''

President Erdoğan underlined that the teams were constantly monitoring the situation and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the intelligence services worked extremely hard throughout this process.