President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed citizens during a campaign rally in the province of Trabzon in the run-up to the local elections scheduled for March 31, 2019.
As Turkey has grown stronger at home over the past 17 years, it has also grown stronger and gained further reputation abroad, President Erdoğan highlighted during his address, adding that as its democracy advances, Turkey has a greater say in international politics.
Tensions between Pakistan and India
Underlining that they exert efforts in order for peace and justice to prevail not only in Turkey but also in places to hearts of which it is dear, President Erdoğan said that they try to peacefully resolve the issues and problems through such instruments as mediation works, bilateral relations and telephone diplomacy. Referring to the latest tensions between Pakistan and India, President Erdoğan stressed that he discussed during separate phone calls with Pakistani President and Prime Minister how they can de-escalate the tensions between the two countries.
“We are ready to do our part to de-escalate the tensions”
Pointing to what he described as the sincere, productive, intensive and multidimensional relations that Turkey has with both Pakistan and India, President Erdoğan went on to say: “We have told them that Turkey is ready to do its part to de-escalate the tensions. It is a praiseworthy move of our Pakistani brothers to release the captured Indian pilot as a goodwill gesture. No one will benefit from escalating the tensions and fueling them. We hope that our Indian friends will respond to this positive step in a similar vein, too. I would like to reiterate that we are ready to do what falls to us. I believe that this adversity will, inshallah, be got through soon together with the help of Turkey’s diplomatic efforts.”