President Erdoğan: Our western neighbors have chosen to hide behind high walls and seek peace behind barbed wires

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in Japan to attend the G20 Osaka Summit, delivered a speech at Mukogawa Women’s University where he was presented with an honorary doctorate degree.

“THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY AND JAPAN IS APPRECIATED”

Stating that the friendship and the close cooperation between Turkey and Japan are appreciated, President Erdoğan noted that no other two countries, who have different cultures, different religions and different languages, can stay close to and love each other, and have things in common like Turkey and Japan do.

“The foundations of the friendship between Turkey and Japan were laid during the Ertuğrul Frigate disaster occurred 129 years ago when 532 Turkish mariners died a martyr’s death,” President Erdoğan underlined, and added: “We, as politicians, and you, as academics, are responsible to further strengthen this ancient friendship, built up on the sacrifice of our 532 mariners, and convey it to next generations. It is very important in this sense to enhance the political cooperation between Turkey and Japan, and to consolidate the foundations of our strategic partnership.”

Pointing out that he will discuss with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan the deepening of the two countries’ relations in every area, President Erdoğan, recalling that 2019 has been declared as the Turkish Culture Year in Japan, said that many events will be held throughout the year to introduce Turkey’s rich cultural legacy to the Japanese people.

Saying that he will also inaugurate the Ara Güler exhibition as part of his programme, President Erdoğan invited the Japanese people to the exhibition.

“PAINFUL INCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RECENT YEARS IN THE REGION WHERE TURKEY IS LOCATED”

Pointing to the painful incidents that have taken place in recent years in the region where Turkey is located, President Erdoğan noted: “We have had to deal with the civil war in Syria which has been going on for 8 years, and the crises, stretching over an area from Afghanistan to Iran, from North Africa to Yemen and Libya.”

Underscoring that Turkey has welcomed 3.6 million Syrian refugees and nearly 400 thousand refugees from Afghanistan, President Erdoğan highlighted that, according to the UN’s calculations, Turkey has spent over $37 billion for Syrian refugees.

“If you wonder how much support we have received, let me give you an average figure, which is €2 billion. Unfortunately, most of our western neighbors have chosen to hide behind high walls and seek peace behind barbed wires. Neither the cries of those mothers and fathers, holding their children’s little bodies, nor the images of torture from inside the prisons or the tears of innocent children have been enough, unfortunately, to mobilize certain people,” President Erdoğan said.

“TURKEY HAS CARRIED OUT A LOT OF HISTORIC REFORMS ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS”

Underlining that it is women that most suffer from crises across the world, President Erdoğan said: “At a time when discrimination is on the rise, exclusionary policies towards women become widespread and the concept of family gets eroded, we, as Turkey, have carried out a lot of historic reforms on women’s rights over the past 17 years. Personally, I have always attached importance to joining forces and cooperating with women wherever I have assumed political responsibility. Behind all the achievements I have enjoyed throughout my 40-year-long political life lie women’s efforts, endeavors and self-sacrifices.”

In Turkey, women’s share in public employment is over 38%, women’s participation in labor force has increased from 28% to 34% and women’s employment has risen from 25% to nearly 30%, highlighted President Erdoğan, adding: “These are of course important figures but never sufficient in our view. We will continue to exert efforts to make sure that women enjoy every opportunity they deserve in all areas of life. No matter what the circumstances may be, we, as Turkey, will continue to stand with the oppressed and the wronged regardless of their ethnic identities, beliefs and skin colors. Determinedly maintaining our struggle for rights, freedoms and justice, we will be the humanity’s conscience in a world of eroding consciences.”