Addressing the opening ceremony of Istanbul Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, President Erdoğan said: “Those knowledgeable about the history of the Middle East can clearly see the fact that the Palestinian issue lies at the essence of all the current problems in our region. Peace will remain elusive in our region unless this issue is settled in a just manner. Permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if the Palestine-Israel issue is solved once and for all.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the opening ceremony of Istanbul Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church in Yeşilköy, Istanbul.
“I CALL ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HELP AFGHANISTAN”
Starting his speech by referring to the earthquake in Afghanistan, President Erdoğan said: “I wish Allah's mercy on our brothers and sisters who lost their lives due to the earthquake yesterday in Afghanistan, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. On behalf of my country and nation, I extend my condolences to Afghanistan.”
President Erdoğan noted: “As a country that experienced the disaster of the century eight months ago and lost its over 50 thousand citizens in the earthquake, we stand with our Afghan brothers and sisters with all our means. We have instructed our relevant institutions to rapidly send the relief supplies needed by the Afghan people in the quake zone. I call on the international community to help Afghanistan. May Allah protect us against every disaster and trouble.”
“WE ENABLED COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS TO ACQUIRE IMMOVABLES”
“I am pleased to be with you during the opening ceremony of Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, for which we broke ground with you in 2019. I wish the church may be auspicious for the Syriac community, and congratulate those who put efforts for its opening in Istanbul, an epitome of tolerance and peace,” said the President.
“We consider it to be among our state’s fundamental duties to meet the needs of the Syriac Community, just like the needs of every member of the entire 85 million,” stressed the President, noting that Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, the first-ever church built in the Republican era, is just one of the many reform efforts implemented for the freedom of religion and belief since 2002. “With legal amendments, we enabled community foundations to acquire and dispose of immovables. We abolished the requirement of permission from the Council of Ministers for the registration of immovables under the foundation’s name. We ensured that the community foundation’s previously-confiscated properties are returned, and those transferred to third parties are paid for. So far, 1084 immovables, including 113 owned by the Syriac community, have been registered under the community foundations' name.”
“I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND WITH YOU WHENEVER YOU NEED”
President Erdoğan said: “Notwithstanding the increasing discrimination against our brothers and sisters in the Balkans and the Western Thrace, we have never resorted to such a path against members of different faith groups in our country, nor have we allowed such a path to be taken. We never allow our citizens to be affected by the disagreements experienced in our bilateral relations with some countries. We preserve this embracing stance, which we inherited from Mehmed the Conqueror, in every field, first and foremost in education.”
President Erdoğan went onto say: “As the President of Türkiye, I will continue to stand with you whenever you need. I believe that you, for your part, will lend the necessary support in order for the Republic of Türkiye, our common state and shared home, to strengthen, grow and come to the level it deserves in the world. I have confidence in your support and contributions for building the Century of Türkiye.”
“TÜRKİYE HAS EXEMPLARY EXPERIENCE IN ACCOMMODATING MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND FAITHS PEACEFULLY THROUGHOUT CENTURIES”
President Erdoğan stated: “Türkiye has exemplary experience in accommodating members of different cultures and faiths peacefully throughout centuries. Our faith, which regards human beings as the most honorable of the created, commands us to be always fair and act equitably. Likewise, our civilization pays no regard to the identity of the oppressed or the oppressor. It is our duty to stand up to the oppressor and to stand with the oppressed, regardless of their name, faith or allegiance.”
Drawing attention to the recently escalating hate crimes such as Islamophobia and xenophobia that directly target human beings, President Erdoğan said: “Heinous attacks of fanatics who burn the Holy Quran are unfortunately being tolerated under the pretext of freedom of thought. Such attacks are being allowed to take place outside our embassies, offending and provoking billions of Muslims. The reaction shown by other faith groups who have intelligence, reason and conscience, as well as by Muslims in the face of such hate crimes is being disregarded. It is unacceptable that new ones are added to these attacks, which escalate day by day and go beyond the limits of toleration. It is impossible for us to understand those who, under whatever excuse, allow people’s sanctities to be attacked. Unfortunately, those who turn a blind eye to hate crimes undermine the will of different cultures to live peacefully together. Accommodating the members of different faiths throughout centuries, Türkiye plays a leading role in the fight against Islamophobic and xenophobic currents. We draw attention to this danger and strongly voice our rejection of attacks on people’s sanctities at every platform we are a member of, particularly at the United Nations.”
President Erdoğan added: “I am pleased to see that all the communities in our country, including Jews and Christians, display a determined stance on this issue. I thank the Istanbul Syriac Ancient Foundation for their reaction to the hate crimes targeting the Holy Quran and Muslims.”
“THE REALIZATION OF A STATE OF PALESTINE BASED ON THE 1967 BORDERS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT CAN NO LONGER BE DELAYED”
Touching on the recent developments in the Middle East, President Erdoğan said: “Those knowledgeable about the history of the Middle East can clearly see the fact that the Palestinian issue lies at the essence of all the current problems in our region. Peace will remain elusive in our region unless this issue is settled in a just manner. Permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if the Palestine-Israel issue is solved once and for all.”
Underscoring the importance of the preservation of a two-state perspective for the solution of the issue, President Erdoğan noted: “The realization of an independent and geographically-integrated State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders, with (eastern) al-Quds as its capital, is a requirement that can no longer be delayed. However, efforts to divide al-Quds, space- and time-wise, as well as harassments targeting al-Haram al-Sharif, are increasing day by day. As Türkiye, we have voiced our reactions and objections regarding this topic at every opportunity. We have never refrained from speaking what is right and telling the bitter truth even when the entire world has fallen silent. While we have always stood in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we have also underscored that steps which could escalate the tension, cause further bloodshed and aggravate the problems in the region should be avoided. We have diligently worked through our relevant institutions to alleviate the hardships faced by the people of Gaza due to the blockade. Today as well, we act by the principle that ‘there are no losers in a just peace’.”
“WE INVITE ALL THE INFLUENTIAL ACTORS IN THE REGION TO SINCERELY CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE”
President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “The establishment of tranquility, lasting peace, and stability in the region through the solution of the Palestinian issue according to the international law is the top issue we focus on during our talks with our counterparts. Unfortunately, Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the entire region, pay the price for the delay in delivering justice. Particularly the suffering and death of innocent children and of babies in their cradles wound the hearts of all of us. Adding fuel to the fire will benefit no one, including civilians on both sides. Türkiye is ready to do its part to the best of its capacity to end the fighting as soon as possible and alleviate the heightened tension due to the recent incidents. We are determined to increasingly maintain the diplomatic efforts we are engaged in to restore calm. We also invite all the influential actors in the region to sincerely contribute to peace.”
Following his speech, President Erdoğan offered his gratitude to all those who contributed to the construction of Mor Efrem Syriac Ortohodox Church and cut the opening ribbon by reciting “Lâ ilâhe illallah, İbrahim halîlullah.”
