“We are obliged to do whatever it takes to stop the oppression in Gaza”

 

Holding a joint press conference with Gabonese President Oligui Nguema, President Erdoğan said: “Our priority is to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to our Gazan brothers and sisters. As the front of humanity, we are obliged to do whatever it takes to stop the oppression in Gaza.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex.

“WE ARE READY TO SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE WITH GABON”

Describing Gabon as a friendly country with which Türkiye has been in cooperation for long years, President Erdoğan said: “As you know, Gabon successfully held elections following a transitional period which it entered in 2023. I hope that the parliamentary elections that are scheduled to take place in the upcoming months will contribute to the country’s stability and peace. In your presence, I would like to once again congratulate President Oligui Nguema, who enjoys strong popular support.”

President Erdoğan stated: “During our bilateral meeting as well as the meeting between the delegations, we reviewed in a comprehensive manner our countries’ potential for cooperation. With the agreements we just signed, we reaffirmed our will to further our relations. Our companies have recently taken on critical projects in the fields of construction and energy in Gabon. The projects undertaken by our companies have surpassed 2.5 billion dollars in combined value. I told Mr. President that our private sector stands ready to play roles particularly in the fields of housing, energy, digital transformation and mining as part of the country’s development strategy under the leadership of President Oligui Nguema. We are also ready to share our experience with Gabon in areas such as agriculture, fishing, science and technology.”

“WE ARE DETERMINED TO ADVANCE OUR RELATIONS WITH THE FRIENDLY AND BROTHERLY COUNTRIES IN AFRICA”

President Erdoğan said: “The services the Türkiye Maarif Foundation has been providing in Gabon since 2018, where the Turkish Airlines operates direct flights, are of significant value. We are preparing to expand the capacity of the school, where nearly 700 students study at the present, as well as to inaugurate new educational facilities. Gabon is one of the swiftest countries in the African continent to support of our fight against FETO. I hereby would like to thank them once again.”

President Erdoğan went on: “We are determined to advance our relations with the friendly and brotherly countries in Africa in a holistic, institutional and systematic framework. We continue to support stability and development on an equal partnership and win-win basis in line with the principle of finding African solutions to Africa’s problems. Our network of diplomatic missions embracing the entire continent is the clearest sign of this strong determination we harbor. While we had only 12 embassies in Africa in 2012, today we have 44 embassies operating across the continent. Accordingly, our embassy in Libreville was inaugurated in 2012. With the number of African embassies in Türkiye reaching 38 at the present, our capital city has become a diplomatic hub in this regard.”

“WE WELCOME ANY STEPS TAKEN TOWARDS THE RECOGNITION OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE”

Drawing attention to Africa’s strong solidarity with the Palestinian people, President Erdoğan stated: “The African continent has been one of the top regions to stand most strongly against the policy of massacre Israel has been pursuing in Gaza for 22 months. No one can remain silent in the face of such brutality, where innocent children are dying of hunger and civilians gathering to receive food aid are deliberately shot. This cruelty is testing the limits of patience for anyone who possesses even the slightest sense of conscience, mercy, or human dignity. Our priority is to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to our Gazan brothers and sisters. As the front of humanity, we are obliged to do whatever it takes to stop the oppression in Gaza.”

President Erdoğan continued: “We find the humane reactions rising from Europe in recent days, particularly from France and the UK, to be very valuable. We welcome any steps taken towards the recognition of the State of Palestine. Supporting the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders would be one of the most effective responses to Israel’s policy of genocide. I called French President Macron a couple of days ago to congratulate him on his brave decision. I have seen that President Oligui Nguema shares our feelings on stopping the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We will work to step up pressure on the Israeli government in the coming days. We will make our Gazan brothers and sisters feel even more strongly that they are not alone. We will strive for the establishment of a ceasefire in the region and the achievement of lasting peace.”