Making a speech at the General Assembly of the National Turkish Students’ Union (MTTB), President Erdoğan said: “With its history dating back nearly 107 years, the National Turkish Students’ Union continues to serve as a bridge extending from past to future for our country’s youth.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the General Assembly of the National Turkish Students’ Union (MTTB).
Drawing attention to the MTTB’s history dating all the way back to 1916, President Erdoğan said: “The Union, which continued its activities following the proclamation of the Republic as well, was closed in 1936 due to the actions it took in the most heated days of the Hatay issue. The National Turkish Students’ Union, which resumed its operations nearly 10 years later, got worn out under an administration unfit for its name and the mission it represents. The Union, which afterwards returned to a national direction compatible with its name, remained under the rubble of the September 12 coup d’état like many other NGOs in our country.”
“THE UNION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GUARDIAN OF OUR NATION’S VALUES UNDER ATTACK”
“With the persistent actions of our seniors and juniors, whose hearts beat with the love of serving their country and nation, the Union became officially operational again in 2008,” stated the President. “With its history dating back nearly 107 years, the National Turkish Students’ Union continues to serve as a bridge extending from past to future for our country’s youth. The Union has always been a guardian of our nation’s values under attack, starting from the Battle of Çanakkale to the National Struggle and various stages of the Republic.”
“ISRAEL IS HOLDING NEARLY 10,000 HOSTAGES”
Citing his visit to Germany, President Erdoğan stated that the West, bound by crusader imperialist ideals, stands united and that he witnessed this during his visit to Germany yesterday. “They always keep talking about Hamas. They allege that Hamas’ action on October 7 triggered this situation. I told them that Israel has killed 13,000 people including children, women, and the elderly. Why don’t you mention these? What will happen to the hostages held by Israel? Israel is holding nearly 10,000 hostages. Take a step toward their release, Germany, and we will make an effort to free hostages held by Hamas. Are you in? They cannot say ‘yes’.”
Recalling that the German President will pay a visit to Israel next week, President Erdoğan said: “Take this step. And we shall take the mutual step. There is no other solution.”
“WE REIGN IN A REGION THAT INCORPORATES THE HUMANITY’S OLDEST LEGACIES”
President Erdoğan said: “We reign in a region that incorporates the humanity’s oldest legacies. Possessing such a grand and glorious legacy also necessitates confronting a myriad of problems, troubles and crises. As you also follow, our country is encircled by a ring of fire indeed.”
Noting that Türkiye, amid this ring of fire, moves forward on its path towards its goal of becoming one of the world’s most advanced countries in every area including politically, militarily, economically, culturally and socially, President Erdoğan said: “Those who ignite and constantly fuel this ring of fire have only one aim, which is to prevent Türkiye, the locomotive country of the Turkic and Islamic world, from achieving its goals.”
“Don’t have the slightest doubt that every incident which takes place inside and outside our borders and which yields negative outcomes for our country has the intention of eradicating our nation from these lands. What we mean by these lands is our kindred geography more generally. Those who do not want to acknowledge the fact that Türkiye is more than the sum of its borders are either naive or traitorous, having lent their intellect and emotions to other groups. Therefore, we should look at our environment with the horizon of our kindred geography and evaluate the incidents taking place accordingly,” the President said.
President Erdoğan went onto say: “That is so for the Syrian issue. That is so for the Iraqi issue. That is so for the Cyprus issue. That is so for every issue in the Caucasus. That is so for every issue in the Balkans. That is for every issue in the South Asia. That is so for every issue extending from the East Mediterranean shores to the inlands of Africa. That is how we approach every issue in Europe given our 7 million citizens scattered across various countries. And of course, that is so for the ongoing incidents in Gaza as well as for the Al Quds issue. Whoever says, 'We do not care about Syria, Iraq, Karabakh, Libya, Bosnia, and Al Quds,' is either intentionally or unintentionally impeding Türkiye's great march.”
“EUROPE AND THE U.S. CARE ABOUT NOTHING OTHER THAN THEIR OWN SECURITY AND PROSPERITY”
“Türkiye has to be powerful. This is best evidenced by the humanitarian crises and conflicts that have recently taken place in our near environs. Syria is in a mess. Iraq is fragile. Libya has yet to achieve its unity. The war rages on Ukrainian lands. The tension in the Balkans never de-escalates. Israel has taken a position provoking every country in the region. Europe and the U.S. care about nothing other than their own security and prosperity. Islamic countries cannot display a firm stance even on the most basic topics such as the Al Quds issue. Even though the Organization of Turkic States (OIC) is growing increasingly stronger, it is still behind the level we desire. Faced with this picture, Türkiye has been endeavoring and working to establish unity, solidarity and cooperation in every area and issue. The outcome achieved in Karabakh has laid bare the results that can be obtained if acted in unity and solidarity,” said the President.
“ISRAEL IS ABLE TO RUTHLESSLY KILL PEOPLE IN GAZA BECAUSE OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD’S DISARRAY”
President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “I regret to say that such a unity couldn’t be achieved on the Gaza issue. If Israel is able to kill people ruthlessly now in Gaza and in other Palestinian cities, even in the neighboring countries, the reason is not its strength but the disarray of the Islamic world. While the Western countries’ administrations have become a hostage of Israel, so to speak, the revival and the increasingly vocal objections witnessed among the peoples of these very countries give us hope.”
Underscoring that Israel’s terror of state and occupation in Palestinian cities amounts to a crime against humanity as well as genocide, President Erdoğan highlighted that all the relevant complaints will be lodged to hold Israel accountable for this genocide.
“WE ARE WORKING TO DO OUR PART BY BRINGING THE DEMAND FOR CHANGE TO THE GLOBAL AGENDA”
Describing Israel as terrorist state, President Erdoğan further stressed: “His end is imminent. This crime must be monitored and investigated at an international level and the oppressors should be duly punished. Otherwise, no individual or no society in the world can feel safe. If terrorist formations are backed by such powers as the U.S. and Europe and commit massacres amounting to genocide, then it means that the world order has totally been broken. We are working to do our part by voicing these facts, by sharing them with representatives of the countries we come together, and by bringing the demand for change to the global agenda.”
Noting that the humanitarian aid Türkiye dispatches to Gaza through Egypt as well as the patients transferred from Gaza to Türkiye reflect Türkiye’s ongoing efforts, President Erdoğan stated that in addition to the 27 cancer patients recently brought to Türkiye for treatment, Türkiye also continues its efforts and talks with Egypt for the immediate transfer to Türkiye of those in need of surgery.
