Addressing AK Party’s parliamentary group meeting, President Erdoğan said: “In light of the lessons we have drawn from the past, we act in accordance with what Türkiye’s interests require.”
President and Justice and Development Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the party’s group meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.
President Erdoğan said: “The bomb attack that took place in Istanbul’s İstiklal Street has been brought to light with its perpetrators and their connections. The terrorist that had placed the bomb and a great number of others who had aided and abetted her were caught wherever they had been inside or outside our country and brought to justice. Whoever is involved in this act from the top to the bottom will be found wherever they are, duly brought to account, and punished.”
“Türkiye has now the strength and capability to identify, catch and punish the terrorists involved in attacks against our country and nation, and all who aid and abet them inside or outside our borders,” President Erdoğan noted.
“THE OPERATIONS WE HAVE BEEN CARRYING OUT WITH PLANES, ARTILLERIES AND UCAVS ARE JUST A BEGINNING”
Pointing out that every development revealed that western countries’ efforts to differentiate the PKK’s Syrian extension from the terrorist organization were futile, President Erdoğan said: “The equipment in the possession of the terrorists that we capture dead, injured or alive, and the places where they are trained reaffirm the fact that the organization which is unleashed in Syria under different names is the PKK itself. Let me underline that from now on we cannot tolerate anyone coming before us with this lie. The operations we have been carrying out with planes, artilleries and UCAVs are just a beginning.”
“We are now more determined than ever to seal our southern borders with a security line in such a way as to allow no attacks on Türkiye’s lands, from Hatay to Hakkâri,” President Erdoğan noted, and added: “We have already formed some part of this line with the cross-border operations we have carried out. We will sort out the rest step by step, starting with such troublesome places as Tell Rifaat, Manbij and Ayn al-Arab.”
“OUR SOLE AIM IS TO BUILD A SAFE FUTURE FOR BOTH OUR CITIZENS AND ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS”
Stressing that the Iraqi and Syrian administrations should not be concerned by the places Türkiye had made secure through its anti-terror operations, President Erdoğan said: “On the contrary, these steps of ours will ensure the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria. Those who are not concerned by the presence of other states or all kinds of terrorist activities inside their borders but display a different stance against Türkiye only undermine the ties between their administrations and peoples. Our sole aim is to build a safe, peaceful and prosperous future for both our citizens and all our brothers and sisters in our near environ.”
“WE DO NOT HESITATE TO RESPOND TO THE INCIDENTS THAT PUSH THE LIMITS OF OUR PATIENCE”
Underscoring that the recently-intensified attacks both inside Türkiye and along the border line were related to the plots laid by the terrorist organization and those who unleashed the terrorist organization on Türkiye against Türkiye’s future, President Erdoğan added: “The intention of those who pull the strings of the terrorist organization as well as of the groups that follow a similar direction to its is evident. That our country marches towards its goals in security and stability annoys them. That our country freely takes its own political and economic decisions annoys them. That our country transforms global crises into an opportunity annoys them. That Türkiye consolidates its regional leadership annoys them. Particularly, our nation’s 1,000-year-long presence in Anatolia annoys them. What is more they do not bother to hide all the annoyance they have, but openly voices them.”
Underscoring that same mentality and same enmity lied behind all the injustices Türkiye was faced with, President Erdoğan went on to say: “We have experienced this during the prevention of our full membership to the European Union. We have experienced this during the F-35 crisis that occurred between us and the U.S. We have experienced this when the air defense systems were disassembled and taken away while missiles were dropping on our borders. We have experienced this in every debate in the Mediterranean, from Cyprus to the energy agreements. We have experienced this when our sacrifices to save the lives and honor of the millions of innocent people have been ignored.”
Noting that on almost every international platform, the indications of this mentality were witnessed, President Erdoğan said: “Obviously, like everyone else, we have our own game plan, too. In light of the lessons we have drawn from the past, we act in accordance with what Türkiye’s interests require. While doing that, we do not hesitate to respond to the incidents that push the limits of our patience.”
https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/news/542/141788/-we-act-in-accordance-with-turkiye-s-interests-
