Last minute… Erdogan speaks about Israeli representatives at the UN: They have no way to defend themselves
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered questions from journalists at the Türkevi during his visit to the United States. President Erdoğan’s statements were as follows:
Dear journalists, esteemed friends, I greet you with the utmost respect and heartfelt feelings. We are on the verge of completing our visit to New York, where we attended the 79th United Nations General Assembly. Hopefully, with the bilateral meetings we will have this afternoon, we will successfully conclude our visit. Since Saturday, we have had a very busy schedule. During our visit, in addition to addressing the United Nations General Assembly, we had many meetings, attended various events, and participated in various activities. Before the General Assembly meetings, on September 22, we met with representatives of think tanks. On the same day in the evening, we attended the traditional dinner of the Turkish American National Steering Committee TASK. We appreciate the activities of the Turkish-American community in advocating for our country’s interests. At the 15th Turkey Investment Conference organized by TAİK, we held consultations with American business circles. I explained the investment opportunities our country offers to American entrepreneurs. We shared with them the roadmap for the upcoming period of the Turkish economy. America has been the second-largest country we exported to and the fifth-largest country we imported from in the last two years. Our bilateral trade volume exceeded 30 billion dollars last year. We believe that with a good planning, we can achieve our goal of total trade of 100 billion dollars.
In our meetings, we drew attention to the danger posed by Israel. Dear friends, as you know, this year’s General Assembly general discussions were held under the theme of ‘leaving no one behind’. In the opening session held yesterday, I addressed the United Nations General Assembly and talked about the steps that need to be taken to ensure a safe and prosperous future for humanity. I shared our views on the fundamental issues that are important for the preservation of global peace and security. I reiterated my belief in the possibility of a much fairer world that listens to the voices of the oppressed. During our time in New York, we also held many bilateral meetings.
Within this framework, we met with the Presidents of Iran, Serbia, Ukraine, the Maldives, the Sudan Sovereignty Council, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, the Prime Ministers of Albania, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Armenia, as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In our meetings, we discussed in detail our bilateral cooperation issues and the crises in our region. I particularly emphasized the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I stressed the need to increase aid to Palestine before the upcoming winter season, and I expressed to all interlocutors the importance of working together to intensify pressure on Israel. As you are already witnessing in real-time, Israel is using every means to spread the fire in Gaza to the entire region. The attacks on Lebanon were the latest example of this. Over 600 Lebanese have been killed in the past week. Unfortunately, these massacres will continue as long as the world remains silent and Western countries continue to provide weapons support to the Israeli government. In our meetings, we drew attention to this danger.
With a highly intense and productive diplomacy traffic, we tried to evaluate the 79th United Nations General Assembly. I hope that the meetings and contacts we have made will be beneficial for our country, our nation, and all humanity. Thank you, and now I would like to listen to you.
QUESTION – ANSWER
“THEY HAVE NO WAY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, A SOURCE OF SHAME”
“On the eve of the 7th of October, while 41,000 people have died in Palestine, without taking any concrete steps to stop Israel at the United Nations, without a joint objection at the leader level, how do you evaluate that part? Netanyahu is expected to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He is expected to attend and give a speech. What is your comment on this contradiction?”
It is truly a source of shame that a criminal who committed genocide in Palestine can be under the United Nations system. This is a betrayal to the memories of brutally murdered babies, children, mothers, fathers, United Nations officials, journalists, and many others. Yesterday, following our address to the United Nations General Assembly, if you paid attention to the attitudes of the Israeli delegation, you realized that they were in a very strange attitude. Because they have no way to defend themselves. Their posture already shows that. For this reason, we called and call on everyone to stand on the right side of history. A system that cannot differentiate the oppressed from the oppressor, the killer from the victim, and does not treat each one as they deserve, is a system in decay. The United Nations General Assembly will either treat that killer as he deserves, or this shameful situation will pass down to the United Nations history. Unfortunately, that is what will happen. Israel, a country that has no respect for United Nations resolutions, a country that has repeatedly violated the principles of the United Nations. Giving them the necessary lesson through written and visual materials, I believe, is the most important task.
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“PEACE EFFORTS WITH UKRAINE”
“You met with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy. Ukrainian President has previously mentioned in his messages that consultations have been made with countries including Turkey for a possible peace conference. Has the issue of the peace conference with Ukraine been discussed? Will the possible peace conference be held in Turkey?”
We expressed our readiness to participate in that conference. In this regard, both our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and our intelligence agency will be in contact with them. Our hope is that we will have a peace conference for the region. We will be at the center of the new situation in which we can bring peace to the region. Turkey is the country that most desires an equitable peace in the Ukraine-Russia war. We are not afraid to put our hands under the tile. If we can walk this difficult path and reach our target, we believe that we will have served humanity greatly. Without a doubt, it is necessary for the conflicting parties to believe that they can solve problems through dialogue and diplomacy. We are currently far from that. We can talk to both Ukraine and Russia, which is an advantage for peace. We believe that we can reach the peace that we desire in the Russia-Ukraine war through dialogue and diplomacy. We must take more actions to increase this land. Tensions, arms race, and maintaining a system where weapons, not people, speak in our current world will not give birth to real peace. But we will continue to search for hope without getting tired and strive more.
“BECOMING A NEW MEMBER OF BRICS WILL CHANGE THE ARITHMETICS OF THE REGIONS”
“In recent times, we see that Turkey is making efforts to enter different alternative global partnerships such as BRICS and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN. We have witnessed the visits and statements of our Minister of Foreign Affairs in this direction. I think you will attend the BRICS summit next month. In this regard, there have been criticisms in the international press, some questioning Turkey’s membership in BRICS as a NATO member. What are your positive or negative expectations about joining BRICS?”
First of all, our involvement in BRICS and ASEAN will change the arithmetic of the regions. Forming a structure that will provide more opportunities for us to develop our economic cooperation. Participating in these structures does not mean giving up NATO. We believe that these alliances and partnerships are not alternatives, especially one of them to others. Although there are some international tensions today, the Cold War is far behind. We cannot give up our connection to the Turkic world and the Islamic world because we are a NATO country. Our joining BRICS and ASEAN will provide opportunities for us to develop our economic collaborations.
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“MOTTO TO OPPOSE THEM”
“Aside from economic difficulties, daily political debates cannot cause permanent damage to us. However, if we open a gap in our internal front, this will be very costly, and we will all lose. What will your message to the public be about the internal front?”
Our internal front are the values that make us who we are. We must all experience the same joy, the same sorrow, be moved by the same poem, and feel our hearts swell in the same anthem. Despite our differences in colors and shapes, when we come together, we create the most unique motif. The focus of those who are trying to dismantle our internal front is this spirit. They are trying to dismantle this spirit. We will not give them the opportunity to do that. We will continue determinedly on our path.
“ECONOMIC PROGRAM PERFORMANCE AND INTERNAL RATING DECISIONS”
“Turkey’s economy program, which has been implemented since June 2023, is closely monitored both domestically and internationally. One of the most important returns of the international follow-up of the program is undoubtedly the credit rating upgrades of these credit rating agencies. After the recent rating upgrade announced, there are messages that another rating upgrade could come from Standard and Poors on November 1. Therefore, I wonder about your views on the performance of the economic program.”
We are leaving behind the difficult times in the economy. The success of the program we have implemented is now being confirmed by international institutions, not just us. Our current focus is on inflation, which has been a burden on the people. We have begun to reign in inflation and have started a process of permanent disinflation. We are seeing a solid decline in inflation that is not temporary and this will accelerate. The people are beginning to feel the decline in inflation, and they will see it more quickly in the upcoming period. We will also continue our fight against opportunists. We will not give them an opportunity. We have achieved our goals and are continuing on our path in a disciplined manner. Besides, we have achieved all of this amidst the chaos and instability in our surroundings. Our current focus is especially on the most pressing issue for the people, the high inflation. We are starting to feel and communicate this decrease on our people, and the upcoming period will see this even faster. Our people have just begun to feel the decrease in inflation.
“THEY WILL RECEIVE THE DESERVED PUNISHMENT IN THE SWORD ISSUE”
“My question will be about the AK Party. You have started the congress process and you are sending a very strong message of change. What changes do you think of making? After July 15, you have taken very important steps in the civil military relations, especially in the democratic transformation of the armed forces, but it seems that there is a need for a second-tier reform after the last incident of clashing swords in Ankara. Will you take some measures at this point?”
For 23 years, we have been showing and presenting the new to Turkey. The values that make us who we are are found in that new and am. We are saying change. The change we talked about is a renaissance movement. We are currently holding the focus of the change we are talking about. It is in the event of ‘Kılıç’ that some people see it necessary, and some people who do not know themselves have put forward a confusion. We are holding meetings with our Minister of National Defense, our National Defense University, and our lecturer, and we will ensure that those involved receive the punishment they deserve. This place is not a place for the ignorant people to play. We must not allow the ignorant to play with the place these ignorant people play. According to that, we will take our steps. Our Minister of National Defense and the head of our National Defense University had a meeting with me, we made our consultations, and we will reach a conclusion as soon as possible.
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“WE WILL NOT GIVE UP OUR DREAMS OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS”
“Recently, we have observed Turkey making increased efforts to engage in different alternative global partnerships such as BRICS like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We have seen the visits and statements of our Foreign Minister in this regard. It seems that you are expected to attend the BRICS summit next month. In this regard, there have been criticisms in the international press, some questioning Turkey’s membership in BRICS as a NATO member. What are your expectations, positive or negative, about joining BRICS?”
Primarily, our involvement in BRICS and ASEAN will change the arithmetic of the regions. It will pave the way for the formation of a structure that will provide more economic cooperation opportunities. Participation in these structures does not mean abandoning NATO. We do not see these alliances and partnerships as alternatives, none from one to the other. Although there are some international tensions today, the Cold War is far behind. We must not give up the connections of the Turkic world and the Islamic world. Our entry into BRICS and ASEAN will provide opportunities for developing our economic cooperation relationships.
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“MOTTO TO OPPOSE THEM”
“Beside the economic difficulties, the daily political debates cannot cause harm to us permanently. However, if we open up a gap in the internal front, it would be very costly, and we would all lose. What would your message to the people be about the internal front?”
Here, what makes us ourselves are our values. We must all experience the same joy and sorrow and get excited about things together. It is in this spirit, and it is the trait that the ignorants are targeting. We will not allow the spirit of unity among us to be shattered. Anyone who disrupts this will face fierce opposition from us. We will continue on our path vigorously.
“WE ARE LEAVING THE TOUGH TIMES BEHIND IN THE ECONOMY”
“The national economy was closely followed inside and outside after Turkey’s economic program implemented since June 2023. After the last announcement of a credit rating increase, there are messages of a possible next credit rating increase from Standard & Poor’s on November 1st. I wonder about your views on the performance of the economy program.”
In the economy, we are now leaving the difficult times behind. The success of the program we have implemented is now being confirmed by international institutions. We are focusing entirely on solving the issue of inflation that is burdening our people. We have taken the necessary steps to start choking inflation and the process of lasting disinflation has already begun. We are witnessing a game in inflation that is not immediate, but continued, and this speed will continue. People are beginning to see this decline in inflation and will see this more rapidly in the upcoming period. We will continue our fight against opportunists with great determination. We are determined to give them a hard time. We have achieved our goals and are moving forward on our path in a determined manner.
“THEY WILL RECEIVE THE DESERVED SANCTION IN THE SWORD ISSUE”
“My question will be about the AK Party. You started the congress process and you are signaling a very strong change. What do you think about changing? After July 15, very important steps were taken in civil-military relations, especially in the democratic transformation of the armed forces, but it seems that after the last sword clashing incident in Ankara, there is a need for a second-stage reform. Will you take any measures in this regard?”
For the last 23 years, we have been presenting the new and showing how we emphasize that we enter to show Turkey. We underlined to form a new doctrine. Our focus is on the reform movement for this new doctrine. Unfortunately, some people who do not know each other, chaos may happen. But now, we are in touch with our National Defense University, our Kara Kuvvetleri Command, our National Defense Minister, so that those who are in it will take the necessary punishment. This is not a bazaar where ignorant people can play games. We cannot abandon our people to these ignorant people. Accordingly, we will take our steps. Our National Defense Minister and our National Defense University mustache, and I have a meeting, we made our consultations, and we will reach an end in a short time.
Therefore, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted the importance of various diplomatic efforts, economic challenges, peace-building initiatives, and internal political stability in the realm of Turkey’s international relations. His statements provide insight into the country’s stance on crucial matters affecting both the region and the world.
