Stating that Türkiye is doing its best to prevent the Russia-Ukraine crisis from escalating further, Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun said, "Our main expectation from European countries, especially France, is to support Türkiye in managing the crisis before it is further exacerbated, and to take strategic priorities instead of identitarian politics in the global arena."
Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun attended the Panel on "Türkiye-France Relations: Opportunities and Challenges" held at the Directorate of Communications Conference Hall.
Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun began his remarks at the opening of the Panel by congratulating Argentina, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Winner, and France, with whom it competed in the final.
Expressing that the final match between the two countries was exciting, the Director of Communications Altun said, "It would probably not be wrong to claim that 'it was the greatest championship game in the history of world football."
Noting that under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye demonstrates a solution-oriented, realistic, consistent, humanitarian, and multidimensional foreign policy performance in bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues, Director of Communications Altun emphasised that our outstanding performance in this field has placed the Turkish foreign policy model in a distinctive position all over the world today.
Pointing out that President Erdoğan's strategic leadership in bilateral, regional and global issues, as well as developments in Türkiye, enabled Türkiye to increase its diplomatic power, capacity and influence, Director of Communications Altun continued as follows:
"In foreign policy, Türkiye acts based on the principles of strengthening bilateral relations with sincere dialogue and a win-win approach, producing regional solutions to regional problems, scaling up the global struggle for justice, reforming international organisations and preventing polarisation and conflicts around the world. Our country, which contributes to the solution of problems that concern the entire world, from humanitarian tragedies to food, health, energy and climate crises, also plays a leading role in combating global threats such as terrorism, hate speech, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and disinformation."
Director of Communications Altun stated that with its foreign policy vision built on these fundamental pillars, Türkiye aims to promote world peace while protecting its national interests, and added, "Türkiye has been able to distinguish itself as a stabilising power in this era of global uncertainty and global chaos thanks to the results we have achieved in our efforts to find a solution to the Syrian conflict and the humanitarian crisis it has caused, through our peace diplomacy in the Russia-Ukraine war, or through our effective struggle against all terrorist organisations without any discrimination."
Director of Communications Altun remarked that they would continue to fulfil their responsibility to ensure that stability, peace, tranquillity and security prevail in Türkiye, their region and all over the world.
"It is truly essential to strengthen the cooperation"
Noting that the Russia-Ukraine war has revealed that Europe, which has not yet found a solution to the refugee issue, one of the consequences of the Syrian crisis, is also on thin ice in terms of energy and food security, Director of Communications Altun continued:
"Türkiye has played and will continue to play a key role in resolving all these issues facing Europe with initiatives such as the energy corridor as well as the grain corridor it has pioneered. Based on this fact, Europe must deepen and strengthen its relations with Türkiye with a sincere approach in every field, from diplomatic and economic cooperation to the fight against terrorism. In the long-standing relations between Türkiye and France, there are issues that require joint efforts and cooperation on a bilateral and regional scale."
"Our main expectation from European countries, especially France, is to support Türkiye"
Director of Communications Altun said that the Russia-Ukraine war showed that it has the potential to generate profound instability at both the global and regional levels, as evidenced by the grain, energy, and fertiliser crises.
Director of Communications Altun emphasised that Türkiye, as a trusted actor by both warring states, prevents a further deepening of the crisis through its solutions and role as a mediator, and here, too, it takes the lead as a stabilising actor and added:
"We have made and continue to make every effort possible to prevent the crisis from escalating further. Ending the crisis as soon as possible will protect European countries from serious challenges and new problems. For this reason, our main expectation from European countries, especially France, is to support Türkiye in managing the crisis before it is further exacerbated and to take strategic priorities instead of identitarian politics in the global arena."
The Russia-Ukraine war also showed the importance of unmanned combat vehicles
Stating that the Russia-Ukraine war also showed the importance of air defence systems and unmanned combat vehicles, Director of Communications Altun said, "Our country, which has a strong defence industry infrastructure, develops both high-tech and cost-effective products in the field of unmanned land, sea and air vehicles. In terms of air defence systems, Türkiye is developing domestic and national systems and gradually implementing them. With the capacity it has developed in this field, Türkiye will undoubtedly be able to make significant contributions to the SAMP-T project. The completion of this project may pave the way for new collaborations in the defence industry field.
Director of Communications Altun also stated that rising instability at the global and regional level intensified migration and refugee flows.
Noting that France and Europe face formidable challenges in managing migration and refugee flows, Director of Communications Altun said, ''Therefore, France, struggling with social and political problems caused by irregular migration and refugee flows, should realise the vital role Türkiye plays for the solution of the problem and align its policies with Türkiye in areas such as Syria and Libya. ''
"Türkiye wants France to end all activities of the terrorist organisation PKK and its affiliates in its country"
Noting that there are issues where the perspectives of both countries differ, from the fight against terrorism to the Karabakh issue, from relations with Greece to the policy of Syria and Libya, Director of Communications Altun shared the following:
"As is well known, the European Union also recognises the PKK as a terrorist organisation. In France, though, PKK members make their presence felt. Türkiye demands that France, along with all other NATO allies, cease all actions of the terrorist organisation PKK and its affiliates in their countries. Türkiye expects assistance from its allies in its fight against the PKK/PYD/YPG structuring in Syria.
It should be remembered that a Syria free of terrorism and gaining stability would contribute significantly to the security of Europe. In this context, the discovery that the French cement company Lafarge supports terrorist organisations in Syria, especially DAESH, is a black stain on the global fight against terrorism."
"Türkiye-France relations should not be sacrificed to cheap and short-term political calculations"
Director of Communications Altun noted that the disinformation campaigns of the anti-Türkiye lobbies in the West or the extensions of terrorist organisations such as PKK/YPG and FETÖ have the potential to harm France and the relations between the two countries, and added, "Türkiye-France relations should not be sacrificed to cheap and short-term political calculations that please terrorist organisations or anti-Türkiye lobbies."
Director of Communication Altun said that we must constantly keep in mind that assisting terrorist organisations and harbouring terrorists that Türkiye is fighting against weakens the global fight against terrorism, and he continued:
"We underline on every platform that terrorism is a global threat and that the fight against it must be done via global cooperation. Our President has highlighted the necessity of global cooperation in the fight against global terrorism on all international platforms, including the UN. Türkiye has not, however, received the necessary support in this regard. Nevertheless, we will maintain our commitment to meet the requirements of our own national security and continue the fight against terrorism with every opportunity available."
Demilitarised islands
Director of Communications Altun emphasised that Türkiye, on the other hand, has been working for a fair solution with a sincere dialogue within the framework of international law in response to the problems in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean and that it maintains a solution-oriented stance, adding:
"We maintain our commitment and efforts to resolve the issues in the Aegean by peaceful means, based on mutual agreement, from the militarisation of demilitarised islands contrary to international law to maritime jurisdiction areas. As our President has emphasised, Greece should likewise be urged to engage in an honest, sincere, and meaningful dialogue. With our efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean, we will continue to protect the sovereign rights of Türkiye and register the vested rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
In addition, we attach importance to the support of the countries of the region to our President's proposal to organize an Eastern Mediterranean conference for a solution. On the other hand, a stable and democratic government to be established in Libya is of great significance in terms of Europe's fight against illegal immigration and terrorist organizations, as well as energy security. At this point, we believe that the role played by Türkiye should be appreciated and supported by the European Union and France."
Karabakh issue
Noting that another matter is the "Karabakh" issue, Director of Communications Altun said, "I would like to emphasize this clearly. Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory according to international law. Resolving the Karabakh problem before it turns into a new hot conflict is in everyone's interest. It is for the benefit of the regional countries and is necessary for global peace."
Director of Communications Altun stressed that all international actors should accept the Karabakh Victory of Azerbaijan and design their policies according to this reality.
Indicating that with the arrival of peace and tranquillity in the region, prosperity will come, and everyone will benefit from it, Director of Communications Altun added, "We expect France to support Türkiye's efforts in this regard. On the other hand, when we look at the European Islamophobia Report, we, unfortunately, encounter many negative developments in France regarding anti-Islamism and systematic discrimination against Muslims. All Europe, especially France, should take the necessary measures and listen to Türkiye's calls against this threat that our President has brought to the agenda of many international meetings."
"Keeping Türkiye away from Europe will harm Europe in the first place"
Pointing out that as "the former President of France Jacques Chirac emphasized, keeping Türkiye away from Europe, which it is a part of, would harm Europe in the first place," Director of Communications Altun said, "France should also observe the wide range of benefits and opportunities of being in close cooperation with Türkiye regarding bilateral relations and regional issues."
Noting that he believes that such international meetings will contribute to a better understanding of Türkiye's solution-oriented, realistic, consistent, stabilizing foreign policy that contributes to global peace, Director of Communications Altun concluded his words by saying: "It is in our common interest to deepen our relations and strengthen our cooperation in the face of global challenges and regional crises."