“THE WORLD WILL PAY THE BILL FOR THESE CONFLICTS”

Conflicts continue in our region. As a result of wrong calculations and wrong evaluations, our region was once again covered with the smell of blood and gunpowder. 175 female students lost their lives. High-level figures, especially religious leader Ali Khamenei, were assassinated. The Iranian people are now struggling to survive with the bombardment that continues every day.

We are witnessing oil production facilities, water and energy infrastructure being hit, and people being punished. The attacks also put serious pressure on the global economy. The whole world is preparing to pay the price for these attacks. We all see that if the conflicts continue, there will be more loss of life and property.

“WE ARE CAUTIOUS TO PROTECT Türkiye FROM FIRE”

We are cautious to protect Türkiye from fire. Türkiye cannot remain insensitive to the crises around it. This war must be stopped before it escalates. It is possible to achieve this if diplomacy is given a chance…

For us as a nation, there are only humans, not Turks, Kurds, Arabs or Shiites. We stand by anyone who is suffering, whether right next to us or on the other side of the world. We are doing this in Somalia, Syria, Iraq, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. We have done this in many places and continue to do so. Today, I repeat with emphasis, we do not have a religion such as Sunnism or Shiism, we have only one religion and that is Islam…”

Recently, we have witnessed sectarianism being fueled again on social media. I call on both our nation and our brothers in the region to be alert against these dangerous discussions. Discussions that do not benefit us today and that fuel hatred should be avoided.

This nation is not an ordinary nation. We will not fall into this game. This nation has the power and strength to believe in non-mahram and break the hand with its steely will and courage, as it did in the past.

“WE ARE NOT SEEKING ADVENTURE”

Moreover, today’s Turkey is very different. Türkiye has grown stronger. Türkiye left its passive position and assumed a playmaker role in its region. Anyone who criticizes Türkiye will be tongue-tied. We are not looking for adventure.

We defend the territorial integrity of all countries in the region. We have no goal other than peace. We have no eyes on anyone’s land.

But if anyone is looking for adventure, we won’t hesitate to challenge them.

“TIME SPENT ON THE INTERNET FOUND 6 HOURS AND 38 MINUTES FOR ADULTS”

As we see from the conflicts in our region, wars are now changing dimensions. Doubts about digital channels are increasing, including in European countries, and precautions are being brought to the agenda. We all benefit from the advantages of digitalization, from education to health to communication. I would like to share alarming figures for the whole world; The time spent on the Internet for adults has reached 6 hours and 38 minutes. It is estimated that children’s screen time can reach up to 9 hours.

DECLARATION OF FESTIVAL BONUS AND RETIREMENT PAYMENT

I would like to give good news to our retirees. We deposit the holiday bonuses into their accounts before the holiday. We are starting to pay pensions as of March 14th. I congratulate you on your Ramadan holiday in advance.”

Everything in Cyprus, which has turned into a new armament area since the war launched by Israel and the USA against Iran, is under the control of Türkiye. Türkiye, which is a supporter of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) today as it was yesterday, uses the powers granted by the guarantorship against hostile attitudes that threaten the security of the Turkish Cypriots. Following AKINCI TİHA and Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs, F-16 warplanes and air defense systems were also deployed to the TRNC to contribute to the security of Turkish Cypriots.

ANKARA WARNED

Additional measures will continue to be taken if necessary. According to open sources, steps are being taken to increase the security of the island, where there are more than 40 thousand Turkish soldiers. Finally, the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced that 6 F-16 warplanes and air defense systems were deployed to TRNC. It is stated that this air defense system is a domestic production HİSAR system. Ankara has repeatedly underlined the need for the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) to refrain from taking steps that would endanger the entire island by adopting a pro-Israeli stance. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus months ago about arming the island and its provocative actions in the context of Gaza. When the conflicts began, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus appealed to EU countries to ensure the security of its country.

Yesterday, a closed session was held in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, where the attacks of the USA and Israel against Iran were discussed and the government was informed. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler were given 30 minutes each, political party groups were given 20 minutes each, and 2 deputies from parties without groups were given 5 minutes each. In his speech before the closed session, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, said, “As a state, we are struggling with all our units to protect Türkiye in this process, to maintain our stability and to continue our country as an island of stability in its region. Turkey will never be able to withdraw from the turbulence they are trying to draw into in the region. Turkey will speak out against all kinds of injustice as a noble spokesperson of the humanity front and will keep its country strong by fortifying its own internal front. We will neither be surrendered by the language of war nor retreat into the comfort of silence. “We will defend peace without giving up and regional stability without ignoring oppression. We will not be part of a miscalculation that will build walls of distrust between the peoples of the region,” he said.

Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş represented Türkiye at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (KSK) held in New York and gave critical messages.

CALL FOR ceasefire and diplomacy

Göktaş drew attention to the impact of the recently escalating Iran-US-Israel tension on civilians and called on the international community to take action. Stating that the conflicts directly threaten the security of women and children, Göktaş said, “We are deeply concerned that the increasing military tension threatens the security of women and children throughout the region, and we are ready to support efforts to restore tranquility and restart negotiations.” Underlining the return to diplomacy, Göktaş offered his condolences for the Iranian girls who lost their lives and said, “We call on all parties to respect international and humanitarian law and to move towards an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy.” Touching on the importance of women in leadership positions during his contacts within the UN, Göktaş emphasized that the key to social transformation is equal representation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with 21 minority community representatives at an iftar dinner at the Social Complex yesterday. Erdoğan, who gave important messages in his speech, said that the image of unity and solidarity given in today’s world where wars, conflicts, divisions, pain and oppression determine the agenda of humanity is very meaningful. Emphasizing that Anatolian lands are a geography where civilizations meet, different beliefs merge, and mosques, churches and synagogues located on the same street suit each other, Erdoğan continued as follows:

We gather around the same table with Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Assyrian, Catholic and valuable representatives of different communities. I would like to thank each and every one of you for accepting our invitation. I would especially like to express this here: you are representatives not only of your own communities but also of Türkiye’s multicultural and multi-faith social structure.

The culture of living together is at the core of these lands. Mutual respect is in the spirit of this land. There is brotherhood in the memory of these lands. Yunus Emre expresses this in his pure, clear Turkish as follows: ‘I read the meaning of four books. I memorized it, and when it came to love, I saw that it was one long syllable.’ This is the essence, summary and essence of the issue. The point is to love the created because of its creator. It is neither the place nor the right of anyone to divide the people created by God into categories, to engage in racism, or to marginalize them based on their sect or disposition.

We have taken very comprehensive steps in this regard in the last 23 years. We have made important arrangements regarding the return of past properties of community foundations. We restored many churches and places of worship that had been neglected for many years and put them back into service for the communities. For the first time in the history of the Republic, a new church was built during our period. The Assyrian Church they opened for worship in Yeşilköy, Istanbul, became a strong symbol of the religious freedom environment in Türkiye.

We are very pleased that our citizens of different beliefs are active in academia, bureaucracy, business world and politics. Hopefully, we will continue to make this climate even more beautiful in the coming period, in cooperation and unity of heart with you.

While the facts are obvious, from time to time some international circles unfairly criticize Türkiye regarding religious freedoms. What those who place anti-Türkiye sentiment at the center of their politics say has no value in our eyes. Turkey is an exemplary country where everyone has freedom of religion and conscience, where they can freely practice their beliefs, where communities can keep their own institutions alive and where mutual respect prevails. What happened during the visit of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, to Türkiye is an important indicator of this.

HOSTILITY TO ISLAM THREATENS

Unfortunately, today the world is faced with serious problems such as discrimination, hate speech and marginalization. The escalating hostility towards Islam, especially in recent years, clearly threatens both our people and the culture of living together. As Türkiye, we are against all kinds of discrimination. We are fighting for this with determination both at home and abroad.

Likewise, we do not tolerate DAESH-like dark structures that bomb mosques, churches and synagogues, and do not even respect places of worship. As I have always said, just as hostility to Islam is a crime against humanity, anti-Semitism is also a crime, an evil that cannot be considered reasonable or legitimate. Our goal is clear. Together, we have built and will build a Türkiye where everyone living on these lands feels equal, free and safe. ANKARA

PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN TALKED WITH ZELENSKY BY PHONE

President Erdoğan had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy yesterday. Noting that the conflict process in Iran should not disrupt the search for peace in Ukraine, Erdoğan stated that it would be beneficial to continue the negotiations without losing time. Erdoğan stated that the safety of navigation in the Black Sea is of critical importance for Turkey, that a ceasefire that will ensure the protection of energy infrastructures and ports can contribute to the establishment of trust between the parties, and that Türkiye will give its best support for this. On the other hand, President Erdoğan also spoke on the phone with Abdulfettah al-Burhan, President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council. During the meeting, bilateral relations and the security situation in Sudan were discussed.

THANKS VISIT FROM GUTERRES

It was stated that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit Ankara both within the scope of solidarity on the occasion of Ramadan and to respect the generosity of the Turkish people during his term of office, and will also meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan. Secretary-General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, “The Secretary-General carries out a solidarity visit during Ramadan every year. This year, he will go to Türkiye to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity of the Turkish people during his time as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and then as Secretary-General. Guterres will accept the Ataturk International Peace Prize in Türkiye on behalf of UN staff around the world.”

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, in his post on his NSosyal account, regarding the receptions at the Presidential Complex, noted the following:

“We received the Ambassadors of Italy, Qatar, Albania and Lebanon in Ankara separately and discussed our bilateral relations and current regional developments. During our meetings, we evaluated steps to further develop our multidimensional relations, especially trade, defense industry, science and technology, investment and humanitarian cooperation. We also comprehensively evaluated the US/Israel-Iran tension that has recently escalated in our region and the regional and global risks and humanitarian tragedy caused by the ongoing Israeli attacks in Palestine. The dialogue and cooperation between our countries is important.” We believe that its strengthening will contribute to peace and stability in our region.”

Vice President Yılmaz stated that, as Turkey, they will continue to work for peace, stability and justice under the determined and visionary leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with an approach that prioritizes the protection of civilians, preventing the spread of conflicts and solving problems through diplomacy.