"Stop Disturbing the Peace of Our Citizens with Provocations"
"Stop Disturbing the Peace of Our Citizens with Provocations"
Following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdoğan addressed the recent incidents following the arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul, stating:
"I have made this call several times before, and I am repeating it today: Stop disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocations. If you have the courage, be accountable for corruption, theft, bribes received, and irregularities committed. If you stand by those who have been arrested and the allegations under investigation, then say it openly and straightforwardly."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a press statement after the Presidential Cabinet Meeting held at the Presidential Complex.
Providing details on the topics discussed during the meeting, President Erdoğan said:
"I extend my greetings for the blessed month of Ramadan, which is now nearing its end, and for Laylat al-Qadr, which we are advised to seek during these days. I sincerely pray to Almighty Allah to encompass our nation, the Muslim world, and all of humanity with His mercy, forgiveness, blessings, and grace in honor of these holy days. On one hand, we feel the sadness of bidding farewell to Ramadan, and on the other, the excitement of welcoming the holiday. I pray that our Lord grants us health, well-being, and peace so that we may reach Eid al-Fitr.
I wish for an immediate end to the deaths, suffering, oppression, victimization, and injustices occurring in different corners of our heartland, particularly in Gaza, Palestine, and Yemen.
Since our last meeting, we have had a busy schedule, including iftar programs, meetings with foreign officials, phone conversations, and various events. From the oppressed Gazans we brought to our country when Israeli attacks began to our healthcare workers, children under state protection, cadets, farmers, and members of parliament from the previous and 28th terms— we have gathered around the table of affection with people from various walks of life, embraced them, conversed, and relieved our longing.
Today, we will host the members of our education and teaching community at our Complex. Tomorrow, we will be with students from the Credit and Dormitories Institution. The following day, we will welcome our worker and laborer brothers and sisters to the nation's home. In short, we will strive to observe Ramadan in accordance with its meaning as a month of solidarity, sharing, and brotherhood until the very last day. Additionally, during this period, especially before the holiday, we will continue to reach out to the oppressed and needy who have turned their faces toward our country.
"EUROPE'S NEED FOR OUR COUNTRY HAS BEGUN TO BE OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGED"
Through both our voluntary organizations and official institutions, we have increased our aid efforts to regions around the world where people are subjected to oppression. Within our country, municipalities, party organizations, and social assistance foundations are knocking on the doors of those in need, checking on their well-being. Just as we have done for the past 23 years, today as well, we are rushing to the aid of the poor, orphans, and those who have no one else but Allah and the state. We continue to stand by them with determination, and for this, we are grateful.
In terms of foreign policy, the visit of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to our country was highly significant. During our discussions, we exchanged views on the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia war and the increasing dialogue with European countries in recent days. The heated debates of recent weeks have demonstrated that a secure Europe is not possible without Turkey.
Beyond just security concerns, it has now begun to be openly acknowledged that Europe needs our country in various fields, including the economy, diplomacy, trade, and social life. As our European friends formulate policies based on rationality, they increasingly recognize the importance of relations with Turkey. We view these developments as promising for the future of Turkey-EU relations.
The rapid and sudden changes occurring on a global scale highlight the need for greater dialogue and institutional cooperation. Turkey is ready to advance its relations with European countries and the EU based on mutual interests and respect. However, this is not a commitment that Turkey can uphold alone. It is essential that our counterparts also share this willingness. We believe that Turkey’s longstanding strategic approach will also guide the policies of our European counterparts.
We are closely monitoring the latest developments in the war in Ukraine. From the very beginning, Turkey has positioned itself correctly in this matter. Despite various pressures, particularly from the opposition in our country, who remain oblivious to world affairs, we have not allowed ourselves to be swayed.
We have maintained a balanced, fair, and trustworthy stance between the two neighboring countries. We have consistently emphasized on all platforms that peace has no losers, and we continue to uphold this principle today. As the war enters its fourth year, we hope it will end with a just peace before more blood is shed and more destruction occurs.
We see Russia’s partial positive response to the United States' 30-day ceasefire proposal as a modest yet valuable step toward peace. We have mobilized all our diplomatic resources to ensure that our region emerges from the vortex of instability and conflict as soon as possible.
I shared our thoughts on this matter during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. In our sincere conversation, we discussed many significant issues, including the removal of all obstacles to achieving our $100 billion trade target, which we had set with President Trump. We also thoroughly assessed critical current developments in our region, particularly in Syria.
It is entirely possible for Turkish-American relations to gain new momentum during President Trump’s second term. Despite all the challenges in our region and the lobbies working to undermine the cooperation between our two allied nations, we believe— and must ensure— that we will succeed for the well-being of our entire region.
As we do every year, on March 18th, we proudly celebrated the anniversary of the Gallipoli Naval Victory. On the 110th anniversary of Gallipoli's victory, we once again remembered our immortal heroes who made Gallipoli impassable at the cost of their lives, with mercy, gratitude, and the highest respect. Our martyrs from all over our heartland, from Syria to Gaza, from Aleppo to Tabriz, from Mosul to Jerusalem, rest side by side in Gallipoli. The spirit of Gallipoli embodies this solidarity and shared fate. The Gallipoli spirit is a profound consciousness that connects us both as a nation and with our brothers and sisters. God willing, we will continue to preserve and exalt this spirit.
Last week, we also joyfully celebrated Nevruz, the herald of spring, and a festival of abundance and prosperity. On March 21st and the following days, despite a few negative incidents, there were no unpleasant events that upset, disturbed, or humiliated our nation. Overall, we had a much more peaceful Nevruz compared to previous years. We also joined the excitement of Nevruz with our nation, our region, and the Turkish world at the program organized by our party in Istanbul. We desire to have Nevruz officially recognized as a public holiday, symbolizing the brotherhood of our nation.
We will also propose at the upcoming summit that Nevruz be recognized as a common memorial and celebration day for the Turkish world.
However, I must also say this: While we certainly do not approve of some of the images reflected from the Nevruz events, despite that, we find it very meaningful that this year's celebrations were carried out without incident, without tension, and without violence, in the name of our nation's unity and cohesion.
“AS WE GET CLOSER TO A TERROR-FREE TURKEY, WE WILL WITNESS MORE OF THE DELIRIUMS OF THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THE TOOLS OF EXPLOITATION.”
However, you look and see that the act of one of our police officers, who paid from his own pocket to buy cotton candy for a disabled citizen and gave it to children, becomes a subject of criticism by the main opposition actors. Those who embrace street terrorists attacking our police officers with axes, fireworks, flammable acid, Molotov cocktails, stones, and clubs now take issue with the police officer giving cotton candy to children. They now shamelessly engage in patriotic rhetoric over cotton candy as if they weren’t the ones begging for votes in city after city just a while ago. They have such a twisted mindset that they have no problem with throwing stones at the police, throwing Molotov cocktails, throwing acid, or attacking with axes. They have no issue with shop owners’ windows being broken or their goods being looted. They are also not concerned with historical mosques being turned into taverns, I’m sorry to say. But the fact that our police distributed cotton candy to children during the Nevruz celebrations bothers them. I believe that this inconsistency, this great contradiction, has been noted by our nation, especially by our Kurdish brothers and sisters.
Let it be known that this fascist language has lost against the nation, and it will continue to lose. As we approach the goal of a terror-free Turkey, we will witness more of the deliriums of those who have lost the tools of exploitation. Whatever they do, we are determined to save our nation from the terror scourge that has been draining its blood and resources for 40 years. We, with our Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Sunnis, Alevis, Circassians, Lazes, and all 85 million, carry the trust of this nation. We govern one of the largest, strongest, and brightest countries in the world, Turkey. What suits us, as it has been for 23 years, is to embrace, not polarize; to cooperate, not fight; and to advocate for love politics instead of hate politics. No matter the cost, we will never cease to elevate the universal language of love, peace, and brotherhood. Without being swayed by those who sow discord and hate, we will continue to transform Nevruz, which symbolizes the arrival of spring with its abundance and prosperity, into an opportunity for all 85 million of us to embrace each other with new hope.
I once again congratulate the Nevruz Festival of our brothers and sisters, especially those in our heart and culture geography, and sincerely wish that it strengthens the bonds of love and brotherhood between us.
Following a corruption operation centered in Istanbul, and after the main opposition party leader’s call to the streets, we closely followed the events that quickly turned into violent actions. Due to the attacks of marginal organizations and city vandals, 123 of our security personnel were injured in five days. I once again wish them a speedy recovery. Despite all kinds of provocation, we sincerely congratulate our security forces for carrying out their duties with patience and cool-headedness.
Unfortunately, the leader and administrators of the main opposition party have displayed a great example of thoughtlessness. Instead of addressing allegations of corruption, theft, bribery, favoritism, and extortion, they have signed off on the most irresponsible, low-level, immoral, and lawless statements in the past five days. The ones responsible for the vandalism attacks on our injured police officers, shop owners whose windows were broken, and the billions of liras in public property damage are the leader and the followers of the main opposition party who called for the streets. Of course, their political responsibility will be asked in the Parliament, and their legal responsibility will be addressed in court.
My dear nation, what we have witnessed over the past five days has once again shown us this truth: Turkey has a main opposition party that is very small, primitive, and limited in terms of foresight, vision, and quality. These people, forget about governing the state or local governments, are not even capable of being entrusted with a municipal kiosk.
“DO NOT STİR UP THE PEOPLE, DO NOT PLAY WİTH THE NATİON’S NERVES ANYMORE. ”
I must also express the following: After 32 years from the İSKİ scandal, and after 80 years since the one-party fascism era, they once again made this nation experience déjà vu. We saw firsthand what the elections actually served in the one-party period, which was falsely referred to as elections, a theater that lasted for years. The understanding of democracy of the The Republican People's Party (CHP) has once again been proven to be nothing more than an open-vote, secret-count farce. Despite 80 years having passed, the CHP has reminded 85 million people that they have not changed a bit, and we will continue to smile as we watch them play their own game.
"I have called for this several times before, and I repeat it today: stop disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocations. If you have the courage, account for the corruption, theft, bribes, and irregularities that have been committed. If you stand by the allegations in the ongoing investigation and the individuals who have been arrested, then come forward and openly say so with integrity. If you have no such intention, do not provoke the people unnecessarily, and do not toy with their nerves any further. Do not unleash the marginal left-wing organizations, who are nothing but bank robbers in terms of both their slogans and mentality, on our police officers. As you can see over the past five days, they are shouting so loudly that their body language reveals they do not believe in what they are doing, saying, or the stance they are showing. Whether right or wrong, there is not the slightest sign of the consistency seen in people who believe in their words and actions. We are familiar with this hypocrisy, especially from organizations like FETÖ and international actors who have lied to us for years. Like every game played without belief, their show will end once the curtain falls. At that moment, when they look back, if they have any respect left, I believe they will feel shame for the harm they have caused to the country and the people. Although we have never witnessed such honorable behavior from them until now, we do not want to lose hope for the future and well-being of the country. I say it every time: Turkey does not have a single minute to lose. We do not have time to be distracted by these political merchants’ fights, tricks, greed, and ambitions. The opposition party cadres can continue to devour one another, as their former leader wisely put it. We are simply focusing on our work and dedicating ourselves to serving our people. We are focused on building a strong Turkey, with a robust economy, security, defense, democracy, and justice. God willing, we will work even harder, produce more, and not only solve today’s issues but also prepare Turkey for tomorrow’s world in a very powerful way.
"WE WILL NEVER ALLOW THE GAININGS WE ACHIEVED WITH OUR NEW ECONOMIC PROGRAM TO BE UNDERMINED"
The response from the CHP to the corruption operation, which disregards the rule of law, has caused an artificial and unfounded fluctuation in the economy, along with other areas. When the illusion created disappears in a short time, the meaninglessness of what has happened will be more clearly understood. Thanks to the new economic program we have been implementing for two years, we will never allow our achievements to be undermined. As you know, with this program, we reached historically low levels of current account deficit and unemployment, strengthened fiscal discipline, and controlled inflation. We have strengthened the reserves of our Central Bank and significantly increased the resilience of our economy against shocks.
Furthermore, we have swiftly started to heal the wounds of the February 6 earthquakes. All of these successes have been achieved with great effort, patience, and determination. We will continue to implement our economic program with the same determination and perseverance. During such periods, our primary priority is to preserve macro-financial stability. Our Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Central Bank, and all related institutions, with a strong team spirit and our full support, are working tirelessly in full coordination, and we have taken every necessary step without delay so far, and we will continue to do so. Going forward, all measures will be taken with a proactive and flexible approach as needed. Our institutions have both the authority and the will to ensure the healthy functioning of the markets. Using our available tools effectively, we have successfully managed the recent market fluctuations and limited their effects to a temporary nature. In the coming period, we will continue with our economic program without slowing down or compromising.
"WE HAVE OVERCOME MANY DIFFICULTIES, DEFEATED MANY ATTACKS, AND FOILED MANY BETRAYALS IN THE LAST 23 YEARS"
Let me reiterate: Turkey has come through these times through trials and tribulations. Over the last 23 years, we have overcome many hardships, repelled many attacks, weathered many betrayals, prevented many manipulations, and emerged from many ambushes unscathed. We have never taken a step back in protecting the rights, law, and dignity of our people. The games of those who try to crown every chaos they create with attempts to undermine our economy have been foiled once again. Both at home and abroad, everyone can now see that Turkey is no longer a country that can be shaken by a few screamers or a few vandals disturbing the peace. The Turkish people are still confident in us, and we expect this trust to continue. Never forget, all of this is the result and expression of Turkey’s century-long vision: a Turkey preparing for tomorrow’s world, overcoming the 40-year-old issue of terrorism, becoming one of the global production hubs with strong infrastructure, and turning into the hope of its region with a solid security paradigm. We have completed 23 years in power, each filled with work, service, investment, and struggle. It is our honor to have the privilege of preparing Turkey for the new century of the Republic, with its democracy and infrastructure.
If you pay attention, today too, we are the only group who truly cares about the real agenda of our country, the real problems of our people, and the sincere expectations of our citizens. The support our people have given us over the years is not due to our personal looks, but because of the works and services we have brought to our country. As the only government and alliance working to solve Turkey's problems in every field, we will continue to be at the service of our people, seeking solutions, developing projects, and taking action. May God be our helper, and I hope that our meeting and the decisions we have taken bring blessings."