President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "As Turkey, we believe our common interests with the US far outweigh our differences in opinion. With this understanding, we want to further strengthen our cooperation with the new American administration through a long-term perspective on a win-win basis. Turkey will continue to do its part in a manner that is worthy of the alliance and strategic partnership between the two countries."
President Erdoğan sent a video message to the special program organised on the occasion of the beginning of the uninterrupted broadcasting of TASC TV, the television channel of the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC).
Wishing TASC TV to be auspicious, President Erdoğan stated that the television channel of the TASC, which significantly increased the representation power of the Turkish-American community, gained much appreciation in a very short time, and that uninterrupted broadcast for 24 hours a day started upon the demand from the Turkish-American community.
Saying, "I believe that TASC TV will offer beneficial services to our brothers, who live away from their homeland, but whose hearts beat for Turkey, President Erdoğan congratulated the TASC Executive Board and the employees working at TASC TV, who implemented the project.
Noting that there is a strong and comprehensive strategic alliance based on common interests between Turkey and the US, President Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:
"Even though there are occasional differences of opinion in our relations, our partnership has managed to overcome all kinds of difficulties so far. Recently, we have been through a process in which Turkish-American friendship has been seriously tested. We could not see the support and solidarity we wanted from our NATO ally, especially in the fight against the PKK terrorist organisation and its extensions. Likewise, the fact that no steps have been taken against the FETO ringleader for four years despite the folders full of evidence that we have submitted to the American authorities has deeply hurt our nation and the families of 251 martyrs. It is a huge contradiction that a country that claims democracy and freedoms welcomes the coup plotters who attempted against democracy."
Underlining that previous experiences painfully show the mistake of trying to eliminate the other with the support of one terrorist organisation, President Erdoğan said, "As a matter of fact, it became clear that those who lead the heinous act against the American Congress have had connections with the YPG/PYD, the Syrian branch of the separatist organisation. With this attack, it was once again understood that terrorism is the enemy of democracy as well as humanity."
Expressing that it is of great significance that all countries, which have the target of global peace and stability meet on common ground in the fight against terrorism and act in a principled and consistent way against terrorism, President Erdoğan added, "We expect a clear attitude from all of our allies, especially after the treacherous terrorist attack in which 13 of our people were martyred last week."
Reiterating that Turkey would resolutely continue its fight against terrorism within and beyond its borders today and tomorrow, just as it did yesterday, President Erdoğan said, "Neither our country nor our region will have any place in its future for any bloody murderer, whether it be DAESH or PKK, or FETO or YPG, or so on."
President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows,
"As Turkey, we believe our common interests with the US far outweigh our differences in opinion. With this understanding, we want to further strengthen our cooperation with the new American administration through a long-term perspective on a win-win basis. Turkey will continue to do its part in a manner that is worthy of the alliance and strategic partnership between the two countries."
Noting that certain anti-Turkey circles who hope to derive benefits from any emerging conflict exerted great efforts to set the US public against Turkey, President Erdoğan said, "I am sure that you already give necessary answers to the lies and slanders of such circles. You also exert great efforts to helping the US public better understand Turkey. Your efforts and endeavours will bring the two countries as well as their peoples even closer."
"We view each one of you as a natural ambassador of Turkey and our culture"
Stating that the Turkish-American community had a substantial population exceeding 300 thousand members, President Erdoğan said,
"Your accomplishments and achievements, particularly in trade and science, as well as in many other areas, are a source of pride for us. I believe that these successes of yours do increase your effectiveness as well. We view each one of you as a natural ambassador of Turkey and our culture. We expect you to exert further efforts to overcome frictions in Turkish-US relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries. The United States government is highly prone to calls and steering from the Congress, media, the voters, and the public. The Turkish-American community needs to have its voice heard better, both at an individual level and through umbrella organisations and foundations. The Turkish community needs to be quick in taking action and develop it as a reflex against any activity or broadcast/publication that may harm people's perception of Turkey. In this vein, I would like to underline that the works of TASC that were put into service in 2016 are important to us, and we support such works."
Noting that they were pleased to witness the primary role TASC played in matters concerning the Turkish-American community as well as during the Covid-19 pandemic period, President Erdoğan said, "I am sure that TASC TV which starts its 24-hour broadcast life today will also make great contributions to the Turkish-American community. I believe that TASC TV and other similar initiatives that make use of the benefits of the communications age will solidify the Turkish-American community's trust in itself and enhance its unity and solidarity."
At the end of his address, President Erdoğan expressed his wish for TASC TV to be auspicious for the Turkish citizens and fellow nationals living in the United States and extended his congratulations to those who contributed.