President Erdoğan: Turkey’s greatest strength lies in the unity, togetherness and solidarity of its nation and institutions
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered the opening speech of the 3rd Legislative Year of the 27th Term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT).
President Erdoğan said: “I salute you all wholeheartedly on the occasion of the inauguration of the 3rd Legislative Year of the 27th Term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey with my deepest respect and affection. I pay homage to all past members who have served our country in this house ever since the inauguration of the Grand National Assembly by upholding a firm belief in the supremacy of the national will. I wish good health and well-being on all of our members who are still alive and Allah’s blessings on those who have passed away.
On behalf of my country and nation, I extend my gratitude to Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first speaker of the National Assembly and our Commander-in-Chief during the War of Independence, and all others who made significant contributions to the well-being of our Republic.
I salute the memory of all heroes, martyrs and veterans who fought in Manzikert, for the Anatolian Seljuks and the Ottoman State as well as during the Conquest of Istanbul, the War of Independence and our fight against terror to ensure that these lands remain as our homeland until eternity.
I pray for Allah’s protection for every single member of our security forces who fight valiantly on our territory and beyond our borders for the one nation, one flag, one homeland and one state. I pray to Allah Almighty for the success of our security forces who proudly wave our flag in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Somalia, Lebanon, the Balkans and in many other regions. I also extend my best wishes for the success of the representatives of nongovernmental organizations who conduct humanitarian aid and development activities in almost all corners of the world under very difficult circumstances and demonstrate the soft power of our country.
“IT IS OUR DUTY, ON EVERY OCCASION, TO REMIND THE FACTS TO THOSE WHO DO NOT APPRECIATE THE CURRENT POWER OF OUR NATION AND STATE”
This year marks the centennial of the commencement of the War of Independence. This glorious journey that began in Samsun and reached its initial target in Ankara after stops in Amasya, Erzurum and Sivas evolved into a new phase with the inauguration of the Grand National Assembly on April 23, 1920.
The Grand National Assembly directed and oversaw the War of Independence and endured many hardships during that time, but crowned this struggle with a victory.
God willing, the young Turkish Republic which was established to replace a 600-year-old giant tree will celebrate its centennial in four years. During its presence for almost a thousand years in these territories alone, our nation established three states; the Seljuk state, the Ottoman state and the Republic of Turkey. On the other hand, the states symbolized on the Presidential seal affirm a heritage of more than 2200 years. No other nation in the world has such a deep-rooted, extensive and uninterrupted presence as a state. Such perpetuity is also an indication of the fact that we, as a nation, never accepted slavery and always remained loyal to our freedom, dignity and ideals. There are those who confuse Turkey with societies and statelets that have no heritage, history, culture or goals; and whose borders were drawn with a ruler, whose independence was not earned but granted, and whose institutions were artificially established. I believe that it is our duty, on every occasion, to remind these facts to those who do not appreciate the deep-rooted history and current power of our nation and state. This nation, which they prepared to bury as a ‘sick man’ a century ago, rose with the War of Independence and regained its freedom.
“BULLETS AND BOMBS THAT TARGETED OUR NATION ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 15 ONLY REINFORCED OUR DETERMINATION”
More recently, our noble nation once again rose to the occasion and showed its loyalty to its future and independence in the face of the attempts by others to bring us to our knees by employing various terrorist organizations such as the PKK, DAESH and FETO. In this context, the Turkish Grand National Assembly was honored with the title of "veteran" for the second time as a result of the resistance it put up in this process. Bullets and bombs that targeted our nation on the night of July 15 did not deter us from our determination to build a great and strong Turkey; it only reinforced this determination.
Those who thought they could bring a nation whose anthem begins with the words "Fear Not" to its knees with a coup had to surrender before dawn to the cries that recited another line from the anthem: ‘For freedom is the absolute right of my God-worshipping nation.’ It is thanks to the success of this struggle that we feel even more confident and valiant about our future. I would like to take this opportunity to call on everyone to show a maximum level of sensitivity about the significance, honor and dignity of July 15 as the greatest victory for democracy, rights and freedoms in our nation’s recent history.
Likewise, we need to uphold the reputation of the Grand National Assembly for this house is the embodiment of the will of our nation. Upholding the Parliament that enabled our country’s transition to multi-party politics and established democracy is consonant with the national will and the state of law. It is for this reason that all coups, juntas, and plots that aim to undermine politics and law and to protect the interests of a small minority over the supremacy of our national will have first targeted the Parliament. Praise be to Allah that our national will persevered each time and the Parliament resumed its duties on behalf of our nation.
“TURKEY’S GREATEST STRENGTH LIES IN THE UNITY, TOGETHERNESS AND SOLIDARITY OF ITS NATION AND INSTITUTIONS”
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey put up an unprecedented struggle on behalf of our nation, both when it oversaw the War of Independence and as it stood up with courage against the coup-plotters on July 15. God willing, this glorious house will continue to put up a similar struggle in the future. As we engage in politics or participate in the work of the Parliament, we must always remember that we are first and foremost answerable to this country and nation. I believe that a person who does not hold ’the nation’ or ‘the homeland’ above all else has no place in this blessed house.
Turkey’s greatest strength lies in the unity, togetherness and solidarity of its nation and institutions. Such a unique strength does not compare with money, technology or other resources. This is why we say at every opportunity that we will be one, we will be strong, we will be alert, we will be brothers and sisters, and so, we will be Turkey. This is why we invite everyone who shun terrorism and violence to meet on common ground regarding issues of national concern. We are ready to discuss all issues of concern regarding our country, our region and the world with everyone who share such an understanding and we are ready to act together with them.
We never turned a deaf ear or closed our hearts to the voices of our nation and to the members of Parliament who represent them and we never will. Let us not allow our political rivalry and differences to eclipse our responsibilities before our country and nation. God willing, this legislative period will go down in history as an exemplary era of cooperation.
“WE BELIEVED IN THE GREAT WILL OF THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF OUR NATION AND TO PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE PROGRESS”
As Turkey worked hard to get back on its feet in the Republican era, it had to fight against numerous problems such as coups, a tutelage regime, underdevelopment and incompetence. In hindsight, we can see clearly that our country was condemned to a low standard in all fields including democracy, economy, infrastructure, industry, trade, education and healthcare.
There are many reasons for this. I think that one of the main reasons has been the tendency of the political establishment to place internal rivalry above service to the country. When we first came to power 18 years ago to serve our nation, our first action was to change the discourse and style of politics because of the reasons cited above. More importantly, we not only acknowledged the major problems facing us, but focused on the great underlying potential as well. Indeed, we believed in our country, our nation, ourselves and our policies.
First and foremost, we believed in the great will of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to solve the problems of our nation and to pave the way for more progress. We believed that we can truly establish and strengthen the freedom of religion and expression by extending democracy, rights and liberties to all segments of society. In education, we believed that children did not have to study in large classrooms of 70 to 80 students and that they could all receive a university education by eliminating the overcrowding in the university entrance process. In health care, we believed that we could make life easier for our citizens by providing them easier access to healthcare through compassionate service for all.
In the field of social security, we believed in establishing a sustainable system to embrace everyone in the country with no exception. We believed in standing by everyone, including women, youth, people with disabilities, the elderly, the homeless and people in need of care. In transportation, we believed in providing fast, comfortable and safe access to all areas in our country with roads, airlines and railways. In energy, we believed in making use of our own water, solar, wind, thermal and coal resources in the most effective way possible. In the field of reconstruction, we believed in transforming settlements with a modern urbanization approach to meet the needs of our people. We also believed in building a globally competitive industry. We believed in building our own defense industry so as to eliminate our dependence on others. We believed in multiplying our exports in terms of diversity of products, markets and quantity.
“OUR NEW SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE GREATEST PROOF THAT WE CAN SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS THROUGH DEMOCRATIC MEANS”
We believed in increasing our growth rate to match the potential and goals of our country. We believed in raising employment rates so that everyone is able to find a job to support themselves and their families. We believed in offering services in many areas such as justice and security to meet the expectations of our nation. In foreign policy, we believed in strengthening the well-deserved dignity of our flag, the respectability of our passport, the value of our currency and the reputation of our country. During my term in office as the Prime Minister and President, my efforts were based on the above convictions and I conducted my efforts always in collaboration with the Parliament. Whatever we did, whatever we achieved, we did it together.
I believe in the importance of both the ruling power and the opposition in a democracy and therefore consider past achievements as equally belonging, without discrimination, to all members of this august Parliament. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this great democratic and economic leap forward as well as infrastructure development in Turkey’s Republican history through their actions, proposals as well as criticisms. Turkish democracy travelled a long, arduous and, at times, an interrupted path. However, its present state is a culmination of our common efforts.
God willing, a much brighter future awaits us with the transition to the Presidential System of Government. This new system of government that was adopted based on the work of the Parliament and the will of our people is the greatest proof that we can solve our problems through democratic means without any intervention. I believe that the Presidential System of Government which has been in force now for more than one year will be our greatest legacy to future generations as we continue to update and develop it.
“TURKEY MUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES AILING NOT ONLY ITS NEIGHBORS BUT ALSO ALL OF ITS BROTHERS AND FRIENDS”
The legacy of our ancient civilization and rich history lends us a great reputation. However, it also comes with great responsibility. Today, there are hundreds of millions of people in our region and around the world who follow our actions in their hearts and with their eyes. Turkey must pay attention to the issues ailing not only its neighbors but also all of its brothers and friends with whom we share a common history and civilization, no matter how far away geographically.
Therefore, we cannot turn our back to Syria or to Palestine, Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Arakan or Turkistan. Therefore, we cannot ignore Iraq or Iran; neither can we remain indifferent to any corner of Asia, from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan and Kirghizstan to Crimea. Therefore, it is our duty to protect the rights of our kin in Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria as it is equally our responsibility to view the whole Balkan and European geography in the same way. Any developments in the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea, however small, concern us directly. Our presence in many places such as in Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and South Asia is governed by this understanding.
Turkey will continue to engage in this vast geography to provide support and assistance and, where possible, to achieve common gains. Our extraterritorial activities do not aim to occupy, annex or exploit other countries. We engage in the same struggle for ourselves and our friends, near and far, and our goal is to maintain security, peace and welfare for us all. Some may travel thousands of kilometers away from their border to support even terrorist organizations, murderers and dictators in order to exploit available resources. However, our goal in our region is only to support, assist and if possible, to make gains together.
“WE HAVE NEVER WAVERED AND DO NOT INTEND TO WAVER FROM OUR HUMANITARIAN POSITION”
Undoubtedly, there is a cost attached to this human-centric perspective. Nonetheless, we have never wavered and do not intend to waver from this humanitarian position which distinguishes the Turkish Nation from others. Today, there are about 5 million foreigners from various countries living in Turkey. In fact, vast majority of the Anatolian population is made up of people who have continuously fled to these lands in the last 150 years in order to save their lives and future. This influx continues to this day. 30 years ago when hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians of Turkish origin came to our borders, we did not even think of closing our borders and leaving them to their own devices in the face of the cruelty awaiting them. Shortly thereafter when hundreds of thousands of Kurdish brothers and sisters in Iraq sought refuge in our country to escape the bombings, we never thought of closing the border. We always embraced our kin and friends who came to Turkey from Central Asia, Turkistan, the Caucasus, the Balkans and North Africa.
Finally, when our Syrian brothers and sisters were crushed under the pressure of the regime and the terrorist organizations, we opened our hearts and borders to them. Needless to say, we are aware of the economic, social and cultural challenges due to the prolonged Syrian crisis and the 3 million 650 thousand guests who currently live within our borders. We also know that Turkey is the only country that can bear such a burden and manage it for so long.
“OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IS CREATED IN THEIR COUNTRY SO THAT REFUGEES CAN RETURN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE”
However, we have no intention of continuing to host millions of refugees on our territory indefinitely. These guests whom we have been hosting in our country for nearly 8 years already have a home, their own country and a homeland. Our job is to make sure that a safe environment is created in their country so that refugees can return as soon as possible. In this respect, we appealed to the international community many times. For instance, we offered to all leaders attending the G-20 Summit held in Antalya 4 years ago to set up a safe zone in Syria and to settle the refugees in their own country. While everyone welcomed this project on paper, unfortunately none of the countries wanted to take action when it came to taking concrete steps.
Around the same time, the terrorist threat against Turkey originating from Syria reached intolerable levels. This forced us to singlehandedly undertake the job of making Syrian territory safe both for our country and for the refugees. This was the reason why we conducted operations The Euphrates Shield and The Olive Branch. We prevented a great humanitarian tragedy in Idlib with the Astana Process in collaboration with Russia and Iran. So far, 360 thousand Syrian refugees have returned to lands where we provided security for them. We work in close collaboration with all parties in order to control the fragile situation in Idlib where around 4 million people live. Moreover, we have been through a long and challenging process regarding the region east of the Euphrates River. This is the background to the current situation.
“TURKEY SUPPORTS SYRIA’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”
First of all, let me reiterate one point before you, our nation and the whole world. Turkey supports Syria’s territorial integrity and the political and administrative unity of the Syrian people. The only reason behind our presence in Syria is the fact that the terrorist threat against our borders has also become an obstacle preventing the return of Syrians in Turkey to their country. We will never support war, conflict, bloodshed, death or suffering. On the contrary, we want a safe, peaceful and prosperous future for ourselves and all of the Syrian people, including the Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Yazidis and Christians. On the other hand, some countries are trying to bring us to our knees by placing the burden of terrorists and refugees on our shoulders.
“IS TURKEY SO ROOTLESS THAT IT WOULD AGREE TO ACT AS AN EXTRA IN A SCRIPT WRITTEN BY OTHERS?”
Let me ask you then: Is Turkey so weak that it would agree to such an imposition, such blackmail or such a despicable plot? Is Turkey so rootless that it would agree to act as an extra in a script written by others, as has been done to some newly-created states? Is Turkey so lost that it would abandon all values it has inherited from its ancestors and hand over its future to others? If some people think so, then, no offense, but it means they do not genuinely know our nation or us. Let me openly and clearly state that we will never concede to such an imposition or such a script. As a nation, we may sacrifice our lives if necessary, but we will never give up our freedom and honor. This is exactly the situation we are facing regarding Syria.
We told those who kept delaying Turkey’s proposals to eliminate the terrorist organization and make Syrian territory safe for refugees that this game is up. We tried every method to resolve the problem next to our border in cooperation with our allies. We were more than patient and we always expressed our determination. The Euphrates Shield and the Olive Branch Operations are concrete manifestations of our determination.
Unfortunately, we have not been able to achieve our goals in this way, particularly in the east of the Euphrates River. Turkey does not have a single day to waste in this matter. At this point, we have no alternative but to continue on our own path.
“WE PLAN TO RESETTLE TWO MILLION PEOPLE ALONG THE 30-KILOMETER DEEP SAFE ZONE”
We plan to resettle two million people along the 30-kilometer deep safe zone which we will create in the area between the Euphrates River and the Iraqi border, including Manbij. One million people will be settled in new settlements, while the remaining one million will be settled in the existing areas. We will settle one million people in 50 towns with a population of 30 thousand each and in 140 villages with a population of 5000 each. These towns and villages will be built with the support of the international community. We have completed the preliminary work regarding the villages and towns to be established and identified their locations. We also calculated the costs. We will also undertake improvement activities in other regions. As soon as we save the region from the occupation of the terrorist organization, God willing, we will set out to work with the support of the international community. We must take this step for our country’s survival, the success of our war against terrorist organizations and to ensure that our Syrian guests return to their homes in peace.
“THERE IS NO RATIONALE THAT CAN EXPLAIN THE HOSTILITY AGAINST TURKEY BASED ON S-400S”
In the meantime, we have not forgotten that we have been denied the sale of an air defense system while bombs and missiles targeted our borders some 4-5 years ago.
We have had to devise our own solutions and opted to buy an S-400 system in order to fend off threats. Despite the statements by NATO to the contrary, there is no rationale that can explain the hostility against Turkey based on this pretext. These developments give us a clear idea with respect to the reactions which we will encounter going forward.
Turkey is in no position to leave its own security and the future of its brothers and sisters to the discretion of the powers that have private stakes in the region. We will do our best to work together, but if this proves impossible, we will clear our own path. In fact, this is what we have started to do recently. There is no doubt that this will not be easy. However, I have no doubt that we will be victorious thanks to Allah’s help, our nation’s support, the prayers of the oppressed and the valor of our security forces. I am convinced that all members and groups at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will support our state, government and security forces in this process.
“WE HAVE SEEN MAJOR TRANSFORMATION IN ALL AREAS, INCLUDING MACROECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND INFRASTRUCTURE”
In addition to internal and external security issues, Turkey is facing other challenges, especially economic ones, that must be resolved through unity and solidarity.
As in other areas, Turkey’s economy today does not resemble the years that precede the 2000s. Our country has seen major transformation in all areas, including in its macroeconomic outlook and infrastructure. As a result, Turkey has moved up beyond the category of developing countries.
In the meantime, it is clear that our country has been the focus of some speculative attacks on a global scale, especially in recent years. The destructive consequences of trade wars coupled with rising problems within the European Union increased the impact of such attacks. Nonetheless, I would like to underline that we stand firm and remain determined in the face of such challenges.
In this context, the attacks targeting our financial system since August last year did not arise from the internal dynamics of our economy. During this time, there were orders, amounting to more than 10 billion dollars, to buy foreign currency overnight at an exchange rate that was much higher than the market rate. The financial fluctuation that began with the rising exchange rate created a chain reaction that had an impact on interest rates and inflation, led to negative growth and resulted in rising unemployment.
Following this difficult time in August, our economic management team took a number of measures against these threats. These measures were enhanced over time and successfully implemented. Firstly, the exchange rate which constituted the first leg of these wave of attacks was relatively stabilized. Then, steps were taken to gradually cut interest rates that were disproportionately high in the context of the economic situation in the country. As a result, Turkey decoupled from other developing economies in a positive way and achieved better credit risk scores.
“I EXPECT THE INFLATION RATE TO GO BACK TO SINGLE DIGIT NUMBERS”
In this context, our banking system is robust and in a position to manage risks. Compared to the end of last year, interest rates have now declined by 10 points in commercial loans, 15 points in housing loans and 13 points in consumer loans. Falling interest rates spearheaded the revitalization of the markets in general and the housing market in particular.
As for inflation, the Consumer Price Index fell from 25% to 15% while the Production Price Index fell from 45% to 13.5%. I expect the inflation rate to go back to single digit numbers when the most recent figures are announced in the coming days. In the meantime, growth began to pick up with the decline of the inflation rate.
Industrial production increased by 4.3% in July compared to the previous month. Our exports reached record levels each month and exceeded 170 billion dollars on an annual basis. We have a very productive and profitable season in the tourism sector. In all likelihood, we will see an all-time high this year with a record-breaking number of tourists. Our tourism revenues had increased by 12% last year and we expect another 10% increase this year.
Our country fares very well in terms of foreign direct investment even as international investments continue to decline around the world. Reserves at the Central Bank that were significantly lower for some time exceeded 100 billion dollars recently to reach its current level of 103 billion dollars. As a result of these developments, our current account balance which was considered to be the biggest vulnerability in our economy recorded an historic 4.4 billion dollar surplus.
“ALMOST ALL ECONOMIC INDICATORS POINT TO POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FUTURE”
Almost all economic indicators point to positive developments in the future. Such developments have led international organizations such as the OECD and the IMF to constantly revise their growth estimates for Turkey upward. As in other areas, Turkey has successfully stood firm in the economic area. I would like to take this opportunity to underline that we have definitely closed the chapter on the IMF which aims to run countries from behind closed doors by means of political rather than economic criteria. Despite recent events, we have not lost sight of the fact that economic issues change constantly and therefore must be supported by constant reform, including structural reforms, to achieve our goals. In this context, we are successfully steering the rebalancing process and our growth strategy. We are also keen on fiscal discipline.
Despite the many challenges we have faced, our budget deficit and the debt to GDP ratio are very good compared to the European Union standards. We are also determined to implement new strategies and reforms without interruption in line with our 2023 goals. We shall implement the road map foreseen in the 11th Development Plan that was approved by the Parliament and will make good use of the next four years which are election-free. We will work tirelessly until we make Turkey one of the top 10 economies of the world.
As you know, we discussed global issues extensively at the General Assembly of the United Nations last week around the theme of justice.
We cannot falter on justice in our own country, especially when we defend justice in all areas, including in the United Nations system.
“THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIRST PACKAGE OF THE JUDICIAL REFORM STRATEGY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED”
In this context, the preparations for the first package of the Judicial Reform Strategy that was shared with the public in April have been completed. It is vital that this important issue is discussed and finalized in Parliament with the broadest possible consensus. For this purpose, the first reform package has been presented to all members of parliament for their review.
There will be other packages which, like this package, will aim to extend the scope of rights and freedoms. We hope that these reform packages will be discussed in a constructive way, both at the commissions and during the General Meeting of the Parliament.
As I stated at the opening session for the judicial year, law and justice are not one and the same. It is the duty of the Parliament to enact the best possible legal regulations to ensure the manifestation of justice. As we strive to achieve justice for ourselves and for all mankind, we must keep improving the legal environment that facilitates the manifestation of justice. As the Head of State according to the Constitution and the head of the executive branch according to the new system of government, I place special importance on working together with all members of parliament for judicial reform.
“I HAVE ALWAYS REJECTED ATTEMPTS THAT AIMED TO DEFY THE NATIONAL WILL AND FOUGHT AGAINST SUCH ACTIONS”
The independence of the legislative, executive and judicial branch does not constitute a barrier to working together for the same purpose under the leadership of the President who is the Head of State. There is no doubt that the President is not going to replace the members of parliament, enact laws or take the place of judges to issue judgments. The separation of powers does not mean a conflict between the powers that make up the essence of democracy; it means that these powers must fulfill their responsibilities for the same goals by striking a reasonable balance between themselves. It is with this understanding that we try to ensure that all institutions work in harmony with each other in line with their responsibilities as designated in the Constitution.
Those who engage in actions and rhetoric to disrupt this balance for the sake of ideological preoccupations or short-term political gains should know that they cause harm not to us but to the nation and the state by their actions. I believe that our nation, too, expects us to work in harmony. I have always rejected attempts that aimed to defy the national will and fought against such actions. As a politician and statesman who was imprisoned by a system of tutelage and who was targeted by coup-plotters, I never even considered any other course of action. I shall continue to communicate our word to the nation and the whole world at arenas, from the rostrum and on screen; not from behind closed doors.
“THE 5.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE IN ISTANBUL LAST WEEK REMINDED US ONCE AGAIN OF THE DANGER FACING US”
The 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Istanbul last week reminded us once again of the danger facing us. For thousands of years, Anatolia has suffered serious destruction and grief due to major earthquakes. It is said that 70% of our country lies in either a first or a second degree earthquake zone. Three quarters of our population and industrial facilities are located in first and second degree earthquake zones.
We remember vividly the scenes of destruction and death from the recent earthquakes in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Yalova, Sakarya, Düzce and Bolu in 1999. According to the figures from the 2010 Parliamentary Inquiry Commission, the death toll from the earthquakes on 17 August 1999 in Gölcük and on 12 November 1999 in Düzce was 18 thousand 373. Similarly, we also remember the 2011 earthquake in Van, the 2003 earthquake in Bingöl, the 1998 earthquake in Adana, the 1992 earthquake in Erzincan, the 1983 earthquake in Erzurum, the 1976 earthquake in Çaldıran, the 1975 earthquake in Lice, the 1971 earthquake in Bingöl, the 1970 earthquake in Gediz as major disasters of the last 50 years. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives and hundreds of thousands were injured in these earthquakes. With each earthquake, we come face to face with the realization that ‘it is the building and not the earthquake that kills.’
Unfortunately, construction activities in Turkey were conducted haphazardly for many years with no consideration given to aesthetics, other elements and safety against natural disasters. When we came to power, we made this issue a priority. TOKİ took the lead in systematically creating earthquake-resistant building stock across the country through various projects. So far, TOKİ has delivered 850 thousand properly-built houses where almost 4 million people live.
“URBAN TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS ARE CONDUCTED SWIFTLY, ON LOCATION AND ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS”
Furthermore, we collaborated with municipalities to transform 6.7 million buildings across the country. To date, we initiated the transformation of 1 million 112 thousand buildings and completed most of them. In addition, we renewed and improved all building standards in construction regarding projects, materials and building controls. Together with the efforts of the private sector, we completed an urban transformation that provided 35 million people with a safe place to live.
Right now, we have another 1.5 million buildings that must urgently be transformed. We plan to renew these buildings that need urgent transformation by collaborating with the private sector to build 300 thousand houses each year for the next 5 years. Urban transformation projects are conducted swiftly, on location and on a voluntary basis. We also overhauled the disaster management system which was inefficient due to a lack of coordination between the many institutions that were designated for this purpose.
Today, AFAD - the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency - which we established in 2009 is in charge of managing all disaster related work including earthquakes, floods, fires and landslides. Furthermore, providing temporary shelter to refugees and intervening in disasters in other countries are also among the responsibilities of this institution. This system which is built on crisis and risk management ensures that we prepare for and intervene in disasters in all 81 provinces.
“TURKEY TODAY IS MUCH BETTER OFF THAN IT WAS 17 YEARS AGO WITH RESPECT TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS”
This organization coordinates all aid and support organizations such as NGOs and the Red Crescent as well. We engaged in building activities to eliminate disaster risk and established a strong institutional infrastructure to raise awareness prior to disasters and to support rescue efforts following disasters. Although we are not where we would like to be, it is clear that Turkey today is much better off than it was 17 years ago with respect to disaster preparedness. The earthquake last week once again reminded us that we must move fast and extend the scope of our work in this area. We are determined to do our best for this purpose.
We believe that life-and-death issues such as earthquakes are neutral and that discussion, debate and work on such matters should not be politically motivated. All actions and attitudes to the contrary will cause nothing but harm to the country and to us all. May Allah protect our country from any and all natural disasters.
With these thoughts, I would like to extend my best wishes to our country, our nation and the members of parliament on the occasion of the 3rd Legislative Year of the 27th Term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. I wish you success in your deliberations. I wholeheartedly salute you all. All the best.”
