Addressing the opening ceremony of the Social Life City in Istanbul, President Erdoğan said: “It is during our government that our country has fully obtained the characteristics of a social state described in our constitution. Türkiye is one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of the coverage of the social security umbrella.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the opening ceremony of the Social Life City in Istanbul’s district of Arnavutköy.
Remembering with mercy Abdülhamid II, who founded Darülaceze (the House of the Poor), a unique venue serving as the protector of the unprotected, President Erdoğan offered his gratitude to anyone who contributed to Darülaceze since its foundation.
Noting that the number of the public nursing and rehabilitation centers in Türkiye has increased from 21 to 107 since they came to power in 2002, President Erdoğan said that 36 thousand people are now offered inpatient nursing services in 417 public-private nursing and rehabilitation centers.
Drawing attention to the new and unique understanding developed in Türkiye in the area of social state, President Erdoğan said: “It is during our government that our country has fully obtained the characteristics of a social state described in our constitution. Türkiye is one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of the coverage of the social security umbrella. We are happy to have introduced such a system to the Turkish politics and governance.”
“ALL ARE EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT SECURING A CEASEFIRE TO PREVENT FURTHER BLOODSHED”
Drawing attention to Türkiye’s ongoing efforts for the cessation of the conflicts in Gaza, President Erdoğan said: “Just as we as Türkiye protect our own citizens, so we reach out to all the oppressed in our region and the world. Just like the Jews who escaped from the Inquisition five centuries ago, we also opened our doors to the Christians who later escaped from the European confessional wars. And now Netanyahu, with his two ministers on his two sides, made a statement yesterday. He said he was annoyed by French President Macron’s remarks, and that he was annoyed by the Riyadh Summit. What have I recently said on my return flight? Hey Netanyahu, these are your better days. Very different days await you. Why so? Those grandfathers… Those kids wrapped in shrouds… Those mothers who take their martyred kids to graves by smelling them… You cannot get away with these.”
Noting that Türkiye welcomed its kinsmen expelled from their homelands from the Balkans to the Caucasus in the past, President Erdoğan said: “We have worked to extend a helping hand to the downtrodden regardless of the identity of the oppressed or the oppressor, and have worked to stop the oppression. While we are showing one of the strongest reactions against the massacres against the Gazan people today as well, we are again approaching the issue only from a humanitarian perspective.”
President Erdoğan stated: “We want children, the joy of the homes, not to die. We want mothers not to hug the cold bodies of their children. We want fathers not to have the fire of their losses in their hearts. Since October 7, all are efforts are aimed at securing a ceasefire to prevent further bloodshed, tears and destruction, and at making a climate of peace prevail in our region.”
“AT NO POINT IN OUR HISTORY HAVE WE LET DOWN THE PEOPLE WHO PINNED THEIR HOPES ON OUR NATION”
Highlighting the solidarity displayed with the Palestinian people during yesterday’s Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, President Erdoğan said: “We took important decisions, with our country’s proposals as well, on many topics ranging from the monitoring of the war crimes committed by Israel to the uninterrupted and regular delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. In my opinion, declaring the settlers as ‘terrorists’ is the most important item in this final declaration. We will follow up on the implementation of the decisions taken. We will continue our efforts for the declaration of ceasefire and the termination of the conflicts in Gaza throughout this process. We will cry out the truth and the right very strongly on every platform, without fearing anyone, paying no heed to what anyone says. We will inshallah take this dignified stance one step further with the international meeting to be held in Istanbul on Wednesday under the auspices of my wife. We will intensify our contacts in the coming days to mobilize all countries with conscience and vision, together with the Islamic world.”
Underscoring that Türkiye, as a country that has no stain of shame including colonialism and genocide in its history, is well aware of its responsibilities, President Erdoğan added: “We are working to fulfill these responsibilities with calm and prudent steps. At no point in our history have we let down the people who pinned their hopes on our nation. We will inshallah not disappoint the oppressed from now on, either. We will not turn our back on anyone who directs both their hearts and eyes towards us.”
