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Home News "Turkey and Spain will continue to work together to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

"Turkey and Spain will continue to work together to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

"Turkey and Spain will continue to work together to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

"We, as two countries, will continue to work together to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," President Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, the capital of Spain, where he arrived to participate in the 8th Turkey-Spain intergovernmental summit.

Expressing pleasure at the meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez on the occasion of the 8th Turkey-Spain intergovernmental summit, President Erdogan thanked Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez for his hospitality.

President Erdogan recalled that at the last summit held in Ankara in 2021, relations between the two countries were raised to the level of a "Comprehensive Partnership". Stating that important steps have been taken during today's meetings and signed agreements to expand relations to new areas, President Erdogan said: "We will soon reach the goal of $20 billion in bilateral trade. Our next goal is to reach 25 billion euros in the next 5 years. We consider the investments of more than 740 Spanish companies in Turkey as a sign of trust in Turkey. We would like to see more Spanish investors in our country. Both the business forum and the Digital Technology Forum played an important role in discussing new opportunities for cooperation. As Governments, we will monitor the work done at these meetings to turn them into concrete cooperation. We will organize the third meeting of our Joint Committee on Economy and Trade in Turkey as soon as possible."

"Spain supports the collective security of both Turkey as an ally and NATO with the help of air defense systems deployed in our country since 2015. For this reason, I would like to thank our Spanish friends once again on my own behalf and on behalf of my country."

President Erdogan expressed hope that this contribution would be taken as an example by other NATO allies.

"SPAIN SUPPORTED TURKEY'S ACCESSION TO THE EU"

President Erdogan noted that during the talks they also discussed relations between Turkey and the EU, and said that Spain is one of the friendly countries that best understands Turkey's contribution to the EU and has provided the strongest support to the membership process from the very beginning.

Stating that they hope that this attitude of Spain will continue to strengthen in the coming period, President Erdogan said: "We also discussed with Mr. President the growing threat of Islamophobia and xenophobia throughout Europe. Unfortunately, the picture that has emerged as a result of the elections to the European Parliament has increased our concerns."

President Erdogan stressed that the Alliance of Civilizations is an important platform in the fight against such challenges, and noted that during the meeting they discussed what can be done in the future, as the 20th anniversary of the alliance is approaching, and reaffirmed their support for the alliance.

Stating that the events in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip, were the focus of the consultations, President Erdogan said: "Spain's decision to recognize Palestine is very important. We sincerely hope that this attitude of Spain will serve as an example for countries that have not yet recognized Palestine.

" "WE HAVE CONFIRMED OUR SUPPORT FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY OF UKRAINE"

President Erdogan thanked Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez for his firm position, and the people of Spain for their support of Gaza and stressed that Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez had made a great contribution to mobilizing the world community against the atrocities committed.

President Erdogan said: "As two countries, we will continue to work together to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Establishing a permanent ceasefire and ensuring the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid are our priorities. We will also monitor the implementation of the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on Monday."

Stating that the Russian-Ukrainian war is also on the agenda, President Erdogan said: "We have confirmed our strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. I once again expressed our belief that a just, comprehensive and lasting peace for Ukraine is possible through negotiations."

President Erdogan thanked Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez and all Spaniards for their hospitality and wished that the consultations and decisions taken would serve for the good.

After the speeches, both leaders answered questions from the press.

Answering a question about the resolution on the ceasefire in Gaza adopted by the UN Security Council (UNSC), President Erdogan said that they would positively assess the plans and resolutions that would ensure a just and lasting peace, stop the bloodshed and bring peace both to the Palestinian territories, including Gaza, and to the region, as it was done so far.

Stressing that it is important that these plans and decisions be sincere and peace-oriented, so that they do not remain on paper and are implemented, President Erdogan said that from the very beginning of the process they said they wanted to stop the bloodshed.

Stating that they had met with all those who needed to be met for this purpose and that these contacts were continuing, President Erdogan said: "During the voting at the UN General Assembly, the countries overwhelmingly demonstrated the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. In the squares of the countries, only those who want peace have been trying to convey their voices for several months."

Stressing that they consider it positive that the UN Security Council has reached such a point, President Erdogan said that great damage has been done to the UN in this process.

"THE MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL MUST EXERT THE NECESSARY PRESSURE ON ISRAEL TO ENSURE A CEASEFIRE,"

President Erdogan said: "The members of the Security Council, especially the United States, must support this resolution and exert the necessary pressure on Israel to ensure an immediate ceasefire. This process will not continue in this way. We hope that Israel will abandon these attacks and come to an agreement that will ensure lasting peace in the region. We are closely monitoring all developments."

President Erdogan gave the following answer to the question about cooperation between Turkey and Spain in the field of defense industry: "This is an offer of solidarity in the defense industry. First of all, as part of this solidarity, we took a step with TCG Anadolu. Now we want to move to a higher or upper segment. We have also started working on this. We want to build an upper segment, larger than the current one combined. Currently, the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense industry are conducting this work. In addition, we are also taking some steps that can be done together in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. Many countries of the world have made very big steps in these studies, and Turkey is striving to take further steps in this direction. We will take these steps up to unmanned submarines, and currently both the Presidium of Defense and the Ministry of Defense are rapidly carrying out this work, and we are monitoring it. We will also cooperate with Spain on this issue."

Answering a question about the Israeli attacks on Gaza, President Erdogan said: "As you know, I have a book "A more Just World is possible", this is one of them, and my other book is "The World is more than five". When one of these five countries says no, the issue is settled. In the latest incident, one of these five countries always does what it does - it sides with Israel. And since they are on the side of Israel, they do not care at all whether 40,000 people died, 100,000 people died, 200,000 people died, whether children died, whether women died, whether journalists died. And what does Sanchez do? She unfurls the flag. Immediately after that, two more Western countries join it. We need to popularize this. Of course, print and visual media have a lot of work to do. If about 150 media representatives were killed by Israel, should we continue to do this? Should we not act against them? Then we must take this step together. That's exactly what we're doing right now. Israel continues these ruthless massacres. While Israel continues these killings, America's position seriously upsets us."

President Erdogan, answering a journalist's question about the "trials of Selahattin Demirtas and Osman Kavala," gave the following answer: "Turkey is a state governed by the rule of law. As you know, within the framework of this rule of law, decisions are made by the judiciary. As for the names you mentioned, our judicial authority in a State governed by the rule of law has made its decision, and within the framework of these decisions, one of these names, for example, caused the deaths of more than 100 young people, and, unfortunately, they caused the deaths of people in the southeastern region of our country, unleashing terror. Does this make us think that you are asking these questions right now? Especially the fact that a member of the press stands up and defends these terrorists in this way makes us seriously upset. Don't shake your head, I'm not shaking my head. Listen, I'm continuing my work. At all times, whether it's Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtas, whoever it is, whatever the law says, we do what the law says. Whatever the law prescribes, we do what the law prescribes, and that's what we do. Of course, you don't live in Turkey. We live in Turkey, and these are the steps that we have taken to ensure peace in the region, and this will continue in the future."

SPANISH PRIME MINISTER SANCHEZ: "WE CALL ON OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO RECOGNIZE THE PHILIPPINES"

Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, responding to a question about the events in Palestine, said that recognition of Palestine is the only solution to achieve lasting peace in the region, recalling that the decision to recognize the State of Palestine was taken by Norway and Ireland, and then Slovenia joined them: "We call on other European countries to recognize Palestine, this is the only way out. The international community should also take steps in this direction."

Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, noting that he and Turkey have the same ideas on Gas and they will continue to cooperate, said: "We must do everything possible to stop the bloodshed (in Gaza). Mr. Erdogan is doing the same, we are moving in the same direction."

AGREEMENTS SIGNED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

After face-to-face meetings and delegations at the Moncloa Palace, the signing ceremony of various agreements between the two countries began.

During the ceremony, 11 agreements between the two countries were signed in the presence of President Erdogan and Prime Minister Sanchez.

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy of the Kingdom of Spain

- Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Transition between the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environmental Transformation and Demographic Tests of the Kingdom of Spain

- Joint Forestry Action Plan between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Environmental Transformation and Demographic Tests of the Kingdom of Spain

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Yunus Emre Institute and the Cervantes Institute

- Memorandum of Understanding in the field of vocational and technical education between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports of the Kingdom of Spain

- Memorandum of Understanding on the recognition of STWC ranks for standards of training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers

- Declaration of the memorandum of understanding signed between Turk Eximbank and the Spanish Export Credit Agency (CESCE)

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Office for Regulation and Supervision of Insurance and Private Pensions and the General Directorate of Insurance and Pension Funds of Spain

- Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific and Technical cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of the Kingdom of Spain

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of the Kingdom of Spain on cooperation in the field of space research for peaceful purposes

- Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Family Affairs and Social Services and the Ministry of Integration, Social Security and Migration of the Kingdom of Spain

A joint statement was also signed at the ceremony between the President of the Turkish Republic of Turkey Wealth Fund and the Spanish Development Finance Company (COFIDES).