Dissident terrorist organization will be eliminated one way or another
President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke at the AK Party Mersin 8th Ordinary Provincial Congress at the Servet Tazegul Indoor Sports Hall.
Here are the highlights from President Erdogan’s speech:
“Mersin is the symbol of our unity and solidarity”
Mersin is not just a city among cities. Mersin is the guarantor of the peace of this country and this nation. Mersin is the symbol of our unity, solidarity, and culture of living together. As long as the smoke rising above the Yoruk tents in the Taurus Mountains does not fade away, our state and our nation will continue to look to the future with confidence.
The unwavering unity of the people in Mersin, who express themselves with the identity of being from Mersin, who feel attached to their city, cannot be measured with any other value.
Mersin has never belittled anyone who came to its bosom by calling them ‘nomad,’ did not alienate anyone by calling them ‘Kurd,’ did not exclude anyone by calling them ‘Arab,’ did not consider anyone inferior by calling them ‘Syrian,’ did not classify people as ‘from this city’ or ‘from that city.’ Because this city is a bed of civilizations, a city that hosts the remnants of all the ancient peoples and beliefs of our geography.
“Mersin will make a bigger name for itself in the Turkey century”
Mersin’s captivating scenery cannot be tarnished by anyone. With Allah’s permission, this city is giving the world a lesson in the brotherhood law, and will continue to do so.
As the most strategic port city in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mersin will continue to breathe life into our economy. With its fertile lands, it will continue to feed not only our own citizens but all of humanity. In short, with its human wealth, the beauty of its physical geography, and its magnificent potential, Mersin will make a bigger name for itself in the Turkey century.
No one will be able to disrupt this beautiful climate in Mersin. No political gain, no social and cultural differences, no personal agenda can be an excuse for damaging this city, which has been made an exemplary city of the Mediterranean. It needs a vision, an action, an investment to activate its rich potential. This is how we look at Mersin. This is how we support our Mersinite brothers with this feeling. We have no doubt that our Mersin brothers will respond to our sincere approach and support with open hearts.
“If there is a crime, it is ours, if there is a mistake, it is ours”
We search for the reasons for the election results to date not in the people of Mersin, but in ourselves. If there is a crime, it is ours, if there is a mistake, it is ours. But we will compensate for it together. It means we need to work more, gain more hearts, put more effort, and sweat more. Hopefully, our congress will be the milestone of such a period, a new excitement, a new initiative.
The transition from the exhausted centuries of the First World War era under the burden of the Ottoman Empire to the Republic left its mark on the first 80 years of our country. We paid a heavy price for the destructive repressive policies of the single-party fascism on our people’s beliefs, history, and culture. This destruction was attempted to be stopped with a democracy and development movement that started with the late Menderes. But the imperialists who did not want Turkey to stand on its own feet, to grow and strengthen, did not sit idle. They threw our country into a period full of coups, juntas, ideological fights, economic collapses, and social turmoil. The painful years after the coups were the result of those who whispered the message that our children succeeded after the coups from ear to ear.
“AK Party came to power with almost an Anatolian revolution”
Old Turkey is over. This chaos storm is a step of those who see Turks only as street cleaners and workers in their factories. If the late Ozal, noticing this game, tried to turn our country back to its original direction with political and economic reforms, he could not cope with dirty games. We never forget what was done to the late Ozal, what accusations were made against him. Yes, after this painful period of 80 years, the AK Party came to power almost with an Anatolian revolution.
Of course, this revolution did not happen easily. The institutions of the period and the power centers behind them showed great resistance to the Anatolian revolution led by the AK Party. From political and social provocations to crises in presidential elections where the law was trampled underfoot, many scenarios were put into play. Not to mention, they did not stop short of activating various murder networks, from the separatist organization to FETO, even to DAESH approaching our borders. Remember the senseless actions of the separatist organization that had no ethical or rational justification.
“Attacks on our independence and future were colorful”
Remember FETO’s attempts, first with the December 17-25 and then with the July 15 coup attempts. Remember the open attacks, threats, embargoes, and traps against our economy. Turkey, as criticized by Mehmet Akif when describing the Battle of Gallipoli, “Faces are different, languages, colors of skins are colorful. There is only one incident in the middle of devastation.”
Yes, the attacks on our independence and future were colorful as well. Their only common intention was to be. Thanks to the noble stance of our people, who stood shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, in the face of the attacks coming en masse, we thwarted these vile schemes together. Again, as Akif says, “I was saying the generation of Asım, here is the real generation.” Truly, in the face of attacks pouring over us, our noble people did not trample their honor with each member, and they proved that they are the generation of Asım. Of course, our people’s strong support increases our responsibility as the AK Party and the People’s Alliance. We have to work, work more. We have to eliminate all the obstacles in front of Turkey Century one by one.
“Syrian brothers smile when they hear Turkey”
It is obvious that there is especially a great affection and trust for Turkey coming from the world. When our Syrian brothers hear the name of Turkey, their faces light up. We consider this a very valuable gain for our future. We will support every effort to ensure the political unity, territorial integrity, social peace, and faith in Syria.
We see that the wealth of Mersin obliges the city to closely follow every development in its country and region. For example, the impact of the overthrow of the 61-year-old Baath regime in Syria and the emergence of an inclusive new administration in the country will be felt in Mersin. Because this city is still a city with an embracing spirit, hosting more than 183,000 temporary protection status Syrian refugees.
Some of our Syrian brothers, who will rebuild their homes and businesses in their country, will undoubtedly return to their homeland. As Syria recovers, as the traces of oppression and destruction are erased, hopefully, our country will also begin the return road of refugees from all over the world together. But as we always say, our door and heart will always be open to those who remain. We do not forcibly displace anyone, we do not turn anyone’s life into a prison. We will not allow 3-5 ignorant racists to cast a shadow on the Turkey-Syria solidarity.
“European countries should solve their own problems first”
We do not care about the cracks in Europe. European countries should solve their own problems first. Then they can come and try to dictate terms to our region. The era of those who have been playing with the divide-conquer rule as they wish in this region for a century is over.
A wind of brotherhood, peace, and stability is blowing in our region. The doors of a new era dominated by development and prosperity are opening.
“The ancient peoples of the region will determine their own future”
The region’s future will be determined by the ancient peoples of these lands. All decisions regarding natural resources will be in the hands of the region’s rightful owners. No one will be able to prevent this with Allah’s permission.
“This new era will open great opportunities for Mersin”
As you know, 2-3 days ago, the Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Syria together came to visit me. After me, they had separate meetings with my Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Intelligence Chief. Because now we are preparing for the future of Syria. Brothers, this new era will open great opportunities for Mersin. Our city needs to prepare for this in advance. Similarly, the peace sought to be achieved in Gaza with a ceasefire will also change the political and social atmosphere of the region.
“Israel has harmed Jews living in different parts of the world”
The Gaza example is a striking proof that oppression cannot prevail. Israel has harmed the Jews living in different parts of the world with the oppression it has implemented in Gaza and other Palestinian cities. Because after the massacres of women, children, and innocents by Israel, no one will be able to look at these communities with the sense of humiliation brought by the genocide they experienced in the Second World War. In everyone’s mind is now the thought that after overcoming the Second World War, Israel can kill not only their own members but also all people. Indeed, the fanatical Zionists do not hesitate to express their opinions that support this idea with religious and ideological arguments. The fact that the country most targeted is Turkey, and the nation being the Turkish people, arises from us raising our voice the loudest against this oppression. Anyone who attempts to muddy any mind and heart should remember the message in the verses of Akif, “Will my delicate head break because my neck is meek? It might be cut off but it will not bow down.”
“Bloody terrorist organization PKK will be eradicated one way or another”
Another development closely related to Mersin is the efforts aimed at dissolving the terrorist organization PKK, aiming for the disarmament and disbursal of its militants. The developments that began with our partner in the People’s Alliance, Mr. Bahceli, are approaching their final stages.
If the terrorist organization obeys the call of its leader, if its political extension does what is necessary, the winner of this will be all of Turkey with its 81 provinces and 85 million citizens.
If the organization refuses to obey the call and its political extension tries to throw a spanner in the works, we will resolve the issue in its own course with the successful operations we have carried out.
“Our preference is for this issue to disappear from history”
Our preference is for this issue, which caused the waste of 40 years of our country, the loss of tens of thousands of lives, and hundreds of billions of dollars, to disappear from history in a thoughtful, sincere, permanent, and final way. At the same time, let no one forget Akif’s message contained in “If I am soft-headed, who said I am a mild sheep? It may be cut off, but it won’t agree to be pulled.” The scourge of the separatist terror will be eradicated one way or another.
“We want stability, security, peace, and prosperity in the region”
Of course, the accounts of our heroic martyrs are beyond all doubt. As everyone follows, all activities are carried out in a way that will not compromise the precious memories of our martyrs, the sensitivities of the martyr’s families, and our veterans. Let me remind once again that every step we take, both domestically and in our region, and in the world, has a purpose. This is for our country to enter the Turkey Century as a state that marches to its highest level utilizing its current opportunities, freed from all past problems, burdens, and equipped with determination. We believe that it is time to dream new dreams, to realize new projects, to say new things, to take new steps. We want stability, security, peace, and prosperity in the region. We want to win together as Turks, Arabs, Kurds. Our arms, our doors, our hearts are open to everyone who will walk with us on this road. Those who have other intentions behind their minds cannot deceive anyone anymore, cannot fool anyone, cannot obscure anyone’s mind and heart.
“Turkey has set off for the century as a caravan”
As the world order is being re-established politically and economically, no one will be able to keep Turkey out of it. Turkey has set off for the century as a caravan. Whoever joins this blessed march will join. If anyone doesn’t join, their path is clear. We will not stop, we will not rest, we will not look back until we raise our country to the level of the strongest states, our people to the safest, most peaceful, and prosperous society. Our faces are always turned towards the future, forwards, to the horizon, and we will continue our struggle to the end.
The article was written based on the speech given by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the AK Party Mersin 8th Ordinary Provincial Congress.
