President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the AK Party İzmir District Mayoral Candidates Announcement Meeting.
President Erdoğan made the following remarks at the meeting:
"I sincerely believe that Izmir will hold those who have neglected it for years to account at the ballot box and choose real municipal work. Türkiye is no longer the Türkiye of a quarter century, half a century ago. Türkiye's regional and global responsibilities are increasing as it completes its infrastructure deficiencies and consolidates its political and economic independence. Given our expanding political sphere of influence, our economic relations growing in volume and quantity, our deepening social relations, and our revitalised historical and cultural heritage, in other words, the reality of a stronger Türkiye, facing away from or turning a blind eye to almost any issue going on in the world is not a luxury we can afford. A reality lies behind our efforts to secure a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine War. This is the reality that underlies our focus on each and every development in the Balkans and the Caucasus and our active involvement in these issues. This is the reality behind the extensive network of relations we have forged across a broad geographical expanse, spanning from Central Asia to South Asia and from Europe to Africa. It is again the same reality behind our most vocal response to the persecution, massacres and inhuman atrocities committed against the Palestinians in Gaza. Yesterday's order of the International Court of Justice on this issue is almost a reverberation of our cry, 'The world is bigger than five.' We once again urge Israel to heed the concerns of the international community and institutions and put an immediate end to its attacks and massacres."
