Addressing citizens following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdoğan said: “It is now an undeniable fact that the pandemic is a health crisis which requires a long-term struggle. This situation is increasingly pushing the limits of the basic service and production infrastructures, healthcare in particular, of all states, including the developed ones. Our greatest advantage is that we have established, in the past 19 years, a very strong and comprehensive infrastructure in all the critical areas from healthcare to production.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.
“WE HAVE NEVER ALLOWED ANY CRISIS IN HEALTH SERVICES”
Noting that Turkey successfully continued its fight against the pandemic with a preventive approach and by closely monitoring the developments in the world, President Erdoğan said: “As we near its second year, the pandemic has exceeded the initial predictions, and continues to threaten humanity in the form of new waves and variants. It is now an undeniable fact that the pandemic is a health crisis which requires a long-term struggle. This situation is increasingly pushing the limits of the basic service and production infrastructures, healthcare in particular, of all states, including the developed ones. If those, who know nothing other than smearing their own countries, raised their heads and looked around, they would see this fact. Our greatest advantage is that we have established, in the past 19 years, a very strong and comprehensive infrastructure in all the critical areas from healthcare to production.”
Underscoring that they never allowed any crisis in health services, President Erdoğan said: “The numbers of patients, admissions, ICU patients and deaths are all at a manageable level. Inshallah, we will further lower these numbers.”
“WE BOOSTED OUR EXPORT VOLUME”
“From the early days of the pandemic, we have built a system that will not allow any disruption in industrial production. By doing so, we have not only maintained our export volume and employment, but also boosted them. Through the steps toward normalization, we have, to a large extent, left behind the problems caused in tourism and trade by pandemic measures,” President Erdoğan said.
Underscoring that through their investment, production, exportation and employment-oriented economic policy, the administration continued to support every step that would develop Turkey without compromising the budget discipline, President Erdoğan said: “We believe the fluctuations on the financial side will settle down as we increase our production and exports, and lower our current account deficit. In this regard, 2022 will inshallah be a year when we begin to reap the benefits of our efforts, sacrifices and hard work. When we successfully leave behind 2023, the last major test on the path toward building a great and strong Turkey, we will all witness our country taking its place at the top of the political and economic league of the world.”
“WE HAVE STRONGLY SUPPORTED OUR AZERBAIJANI BROTHERS AND SISTERS”
President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “Today is the first anniversary of the victory, in which Azerbaijan liberated Karabakh and its occupied territories following a 44-day long glorious battle. We once again congratulate all of our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters, my dear brother President Aliyev in particular, on their victory which ended the occupation that had continued for nearly 30 years right before the eyes of the international community. Those, who remained silent for 30 years in the face of the unrightful, unlawful and immoral occupation of Karabakh and other Azerbaijani lands are the ones who are mainly responsible for the bloodshed and tragedies that happened in the region.”
“As you know, the battle which resulted in Azerbaijan’s victory, had begun on September 27 following Armenia’s attack. Armenia, which had been deliberately armed and encouraged during the occupation years, had seriously violated the ceasefire before. We as Turkey supported in a much stronger manner our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters who were fighting to defend their homeland and to liberate their occupied lands. Armenia violated all the ceasefires declared as a result of various countries’ initiatives during the clashes, and they suffered a heavy defeat thanks to the bravery and gallantry of our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters. I congratulate all who have contributed to the greatest victory of the recent era in the world, wish Allah’s mercy upon our martyrs, and a prosperous and healthy life to our veterans,” President Erdoğan said.
Pointing to Azerbaijan’s mobilization to rebuild its recently liberated territories, President Erdoğan said: “On the occasion of the opening ceremony of the international airport built in Fuzuli, we have shown our support to our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters in their reconstruction and development efforts. Similarly, we are also supporting our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters in their efforts to clean up minefields and regain these areas economically and agriculturally.”
“CAUCASUS’ STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE WILL RISE IN THE NEW GLOBAL SYSTEM”
“The liberation of Karabakh and occupied-Azerbaijani territories is so important that it is the milestone of a new era in the Caucasus. In fact, this new era presents Armenia with an opportunity to get itself out of the deadlock it had cornered itself into. We do not have any problem with anyone that cannot be solved as long as they do not harbor direct animosity toward our country and nation,” President Erdoğan said.
“We want the social and economic riches of the Caucasus, which is the most fertile region in the world politically and economically, to be used for the peace and prosperity of everyone living there. Caucasus’ strategic importance will further rise in the new global system. We as Turkey are determined to do our part for the bright future of this geography with which we share long-standing historical and cultural relations,” President Erdoğan underlined.
