Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke at the joint press conference held after his meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hasan Shaybani at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Stating that necessary lessons should be learned from the crises experienced and that it is essential to act with common sense against Israel’s known actions aimed at sabotaging the negotiation process, Fidan said:

“In particular, the world public opinion must be ready and in a position to react appropriately against Israel’s possible sabotage moves. We also hope that a new security and peace architecture will be established in the region, including the normalization of relations between Iran and the Gulf countries on a more solid basis. I reiterate that, as Turkey, we are ready to play an active role in this process and provide any necessary contribution.”

Important statements from Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan

Minister Fidan said, “Israel is now carrying its genocide in Gaza to Lebanon” and emphasized that, before the ink had dried on the ceasefire in the region, the ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon, regardless of whether they were children or civilians, had cost hundreds of lives and dragged the region into an even deeper humanitarian crisis.

Stating that ending Israel’s occupation in Lebanon and protecting the civilian population has become an undelayable priority, Fidan said, “I would like to emphasize once again this issue, which is of critical importance for the peace of our entire region and global stability. (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s government should definitely not be allowed to sabotage the ceasefire in the region and the negotiation processes established with intense efforts once again.” he said.

Stating that there were difficult topics, including regional security and other issues, in the plans declared during the temporary ceasefire between the USA and Iran, Fidan continued as follows:

“Two weeks may not be enough. If the parties agree, the ceasefire can be extended for a while and the negotiations can continue. Our wish and effort will be in that direction; these negotiations will start in good faith and reach results. The world needs this, the region needs this. Both Iran and America are capable of doing this, and the countries in the region are ready to give all kinds of constructive contributions.”

Bolat stated that world conditions have become difficult and used the following statements:

“The slowing world economy, increasing trade protectionism, customs duties, wars, subsidies, unfair trade practices, the increase in hot wars, the 12-day wars that started with the Ukraine-Russia War and continued with Israel’s Gaza massacres, between Israel and Iran, between Pakistan and India, and the war against Iran, which started on February 28 this year with the provocation of America and especially Israel, Iran’s spread and spread of this to the Gulf countries, these are both in foreign trade and international trade.” “It points to a difficult process, as there are factors that make the struggles in the economy difficult, cause the economic indicators to turn negative, and negatively affect the welfare level and purchasing power of the people. In this difficult process, EU-Turkey relations are in a stable position.” Bolat underlined that although Türkiye is the ring of fire in the region, it carries out the process in stability with its successful policies, and stated that it is a safe port and a center of stability.

Minister Bolat said, “We are pleased with the announced ceasefire. We hope and expect it to be permanent and for the parties to make good use of this opportunity. Turkey also pioneered this issue with the intense contacts of our President and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs for weeks. The efforts of both the USA and Iran were extremely intense. Many world countries also participated in these efforts and created pressure. In this sense, we hope that the current result will not be fragile, we hope it will not be temporary.” he said. “The world does not need more fire, more death, or bombs.” Bolat said that the Middle East and the Gulf region suffered greatly. Bolat stated that Gaza is now the end of history and that Israel will be remembered in history for its crimes against humanity. “Türkiye is of great value to the EU as a stable country in such a process.” Bolat stated that the EU and Türkiye’s industry and economy have a high level of integration.

ECONOMIC MISSION FROM BELGIUM TO Türkiye

Reminding that an economic mission will be organized from Belgium to Türkiye on May 10-14, under the chairmanship of Queen Mathilde, Bolat said, “420 business people, 3 federal ministers and Queen Matilde are coming to Türkiye. We will host them in the best possible way.” he said. Pointing out that they have reached a significant foreign trade figure of 9.3 billion dollars between Turkey and Belgium, Bolat reminded that Belgium has an investment of approximately 5 billion dollars in Türkiye, and Türkiye has an investment of approximately 600 million dollars in Belgium. Bolat pointed out that Belgium is a quiet, calm but effective power in Europe and stated that they will try to ensure that the economic mission visit will be a historical turning point in Türkiye-Belgium relations. Minister Bolat was accompanied by Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Yaprak Balkan, and Deputy Minister of Trade, Mustafa Tuzcu, at the meeting.

“I INVITE ALL OUR CITIZENS OF ANKARA TO THIS GREAT FEAST”

Emphasizing that the Black Sea will rise with the development of Trabzon and that Türkiye will become stronger with the rise of the Black Sea, Uraloğlu said that at Ankara Trabzon Days, they will not only introduce culture, local flavors or horon, but also talk about the history of the city, its role in the War of Independence, and its future vision from production to tourism with “61 Conversations” panels. Uraloğlu stated that the future of the city will be discussed in the “Trabzon is Accelerating” and “Trabzon’s Vision” sessions and said: “We will fill the capital with the colorful heritage of Trabzon and the Black Sea for four days with horon and kolbastı shows, concerts, fashion shows, exhibitions and local product stands. These events will build bridges between the place where we were born and the place where we get enough. Thousands of our fellow citizens of Trabzon living in Ankara will quench their longing, “With these feelings, I hope that Ankara Trabzon Days will be auspicious, fruitful and unforgettable. I invite all our fellow citizens and citizens of Ankara to this great feast.” Minister Uraloğlu also visited the painting exhibition prepared within the scope of Ankara Trabzon Days.

A written statement was made by the Ministry regarding Israel’s approval of new settlements in the West Bank. “The Netanyahu government’s approval of the establishment of 34 new settlements in the West Bank constitutes a grave violation of international law and UN resolutions.” In the statement, it was noted that Israel undermined the vision of a two-state solution, which is the key to permanent peace in the region, and further deepened its occupation policies. “We call on the international community to take action against these unlawful attempts,” the statement said. The statement was included.

ISRAEL’S DECISION TO ESTABLISH 34 NEW SETTLEMENTS

It was reported that Israel, in the shadow of the attacks on Iran, decided to establish 34 new illegal settlements by seizing more Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. İ24 television reported that “a record number of settlements” and noted that the decision was approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet. In the news, it was stated that the decision to seize more Palestinian land in the West Bank and establish 34 new settlements was kept secret due to fear of the reaction of the USA. The news noted that the decision was taken while the attacks against Iran were continuing, and stated that the approved decision also included areas where Palestinians live in Zones A and B in the north of the West Bank. The news stated that the current government had approved 69 settlements so far, and with the latest decision, this number increased to 103.

‘Istanbul Financial Center’, which has become one of the most important financial centers in the world, was opened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2023.

FLOW TO THE SAFE PORT ISTANBUL FINANCE CENTER!

‘Istanbul Financial Center’, which was launched during the Temelli Berat Albayrak period and implemented as a vision project, was at the center of global capital as a safe haven after the US/Israel-Iran War.

MORE THAN 40 COMPANIES TURNED THEIR DIRECTIONS TO ATAŞEHİR

Speaking to Reuters recently, IFM CEO Ahmet İhsan Erdem announced that more than 40 companies, most of which are based in the Gulf or East Asia, have turned to the Istanbul Financial Center. This development reminded us of the words of former Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak in 2020. Albayrak underlined that the capital markets in Türkiye grew in 2020 and the investor family expanded, and announced that they were rolling up their sleeves to increase instrument diversity. Pointing to the Istanbul Financial Center, Albayrak said, “Being a ‘financial center’ will suit Istanbul very well.”

Ministry of National Defense Press and Public Relations Advisor and Ministry Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, held a press briefing on the last week’s activities during the actual firing phase of the ‘Blue Homeland-2026 Exercise’ on the TCG Anadolu multi-purpose amphibious ship. Regarding the exercise, Rear Admiral Aktürk said, “The Blue Homeland Exercise is being carried out in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean between 3-9 April in order to evaluate the operational management and management effectiveness of our Naval Forces, to develop the reasoning, foresight and decision-making abilities of the elements participating in the exercise in a very threatening environment, and to test interoperability procedures with other force commands. Within the scope of the exercise; operational preparation trainings, actual gun firings, logistics integration activities.” In the Blue Homeland Exercise, in which a total of 120 ships, 50 aircraft and 15 thousand personnel from our Naval Forces, Land and Air Forces and the Coast Guard Command took part, a kamikaze unmanned marine vehicle (KİDA) was destroyed for the first time with the TB-3 UCAV taking off from TCG Anadolu, and the national production ‘AKYA Heavy Class Warfare Torpedo’ was fired from the Sakarya submarine for the first time. “With its modern, floating, diving and flying elements, it will continue its activities uninterruptedly with perseverance, determination and a superior understanding of duty in order to protect our rights and interests, to maintain our effectiveness and to strengthen our deterrence, especially in our Blue Homeland, beyond our borders and in the world’s seas,” he said.

’10 PKK members surrendered’

Stating that the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) continues its fight against risk and threat elements with determination, Rear Admiral Aktürk said, “Within the scope of the ongoing operation and search and screening activities, 10 more PKK terrorists surrendered within the week, and in order to establish permanent security, the detection and destruction of mines, improvised explosives, caves, bunkers and shelters at our borders and beyond continued. In the Syrian operation areas, where the works to destroy the tunnel systems used by the terrorist organization continue successfully, a 1 kilometer long area destroyed in the Manbij region.” “Within the tunnel, the length of the destroyed tunnel reached 768 kilometers. In the last week, within the framework of the uninterrupted border security activities, 127 people, including 2 members of a terrorist organization, were caught trying to cross our borders illegally, and 1095 people were prevented before crossing the border. Thus, the number of people caught while trying to cross our borders illegally during the year was 1822, and the number of people prevented before crossing the border was 19 thousand 992.” he said.

‘WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE ceasefire’

Aktürk made the following assessment within the scope of the developments in the Middle East:

“We are pleased that a temporary ceasefire has been established in the war that has been going on for more than a month in our region. Our wish is that the ceasefire conditions will be strictly implemented and this two-week temporary ceasefire period will be evaluated with constructive steps to evolve into a permanent ceasefire and peace, establishing stability, peace and security in the region. On the other hand, we expect Israel’s attacks, which violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and deepen instability in the region, to be stopped immediately. In addition, we expect the attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israel’s rulers to be stopped immediately. “We condemn the raids and emphasize that the Al-Aqsa Mosque should be opened for worship and all restrictions that prevent freedom of worship in Jerusalem should be removed.”

NEW WEAPON SYSTEMS IN THE INVENTORY

Stating that the development efforts of the Turkish Armed Forces with domestic defense industry products are continuing, Rear Admiral Aktürk said, “In this context; our Land Forces Command has produced various amounts of TB-3 SİHA and Electronic Circuit Improvised Explosive Devices Detection and Neutralization System for the first time, and our Air Forces Command has purchased various amounts of Aksungur and Akıncı unmanned aerial vehicles and CATS Electro-Optical/Infrared Camera System, inspection and acceptance. “Within the scope of the ‘New Type Landing Ship Project’, where 8 units are planned to be procured, the second ship was put into service on April 3, and the port acceptance tests of the third ship were completed. Our Machinery and Chemical Industry Joint Stock Company (MKE) and ASFAT are participating in the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE) held in Chile between 7-12 April,” he said.

’70 THOUSAND CANDIDATES COMPLETED THEIR PREFERENCES IN 2 WEEKS’

Explaining that personnel and military student recruitment/supply procedures continue in accordance with the planned schedule, Aktürk said, “70 thousand candidates completed their preferences in the first 2 weeks within the scope of the 2026 National Defense University Military Academy and Non-Commissioned Officer Vocational Schools Military Student Candidate Selection Process, which started on March 25. We thank our young people and their families who showed great interest. Within the scope of the Regional Career Fairs, Batı Akdeniz in Antalya on 13-14 April, 15-16 “There will be participation in the Aegean Career Fairs in Aydın in April. Applications for Permanent Worker Supply from Disabled Persons and Those Injured in the Fight against Terrorism, which started on April 6 and are being made to İŞKUR, will end tomorrow (April 10).”

‘JOINT STUDIES ARE BEING CONDUCTED’

Following Rear Admiral Aktürk’s presentation, the ministry made a written statement regarding the issues on the agenda. In the statement, regarding the technical examination of the C-130 aircraft that crashed on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border, “The activities of the technical examination committee, coordinated by our Air Forces Command, after the accident of the C-130E aircraft with wing number 68-1609 on November 11, 2025, continue uninterruptedly, first in the debris field in Georgia and then in the Kayseri facilities of the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate, where the debris was brought. Detailed examinations are carried out in a coordinated manner.” “And in this process, joint studies are carried out with the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate Eskişehir, the 12th Air Transport Main Base Command, TAI, MKE and the relevant expert units of the Gendarmerie General Command.”

‘THERE WAS NO DATA FOUND IN THE RECORDER THAT WOULD ENLIGHTEN THE ACCIDENT’

In the statement, it was emphasized that the technical report studies were continuing, and said, “When the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) records were examined, it was determined that everything continued normally in the digital data records in the flight crew’s conversations and in the plane’s systems until the moment of the accident, no malfunction was detected, the incident developed suddenly, the recording ended as a result of the power and data cables of the FDR breaking due to the separation of the aircraft tail cone area from the aircraft body, and therefore there was no additional data in the recorder that would shed light on the accident. “As a result of detailed investigations, it was determined that the engine and propellers were working smoothly until the moment of the accident. No damage to the aircraft fuselage due to the propeller breakage was detected.”

‘NO EXPLOSIVE SURPLUS WAS FOUND’

Regarding the allegations of sabotage or attack, it was stated that “As a result of the examination of the samples taken from the plane wreckage by the Gendarmerie Criminal Directorate, no traces of explosive material were found inside or outside.”

‘BRIZZLE FATIGUE BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN DETECTED’

Regarding the examination of structural damage in the materials, “Additional metallurgical examinations and analyzes regarding the structural damage and traces on the parts taken from the aircraft wreckage are continuing in detail. It is expected that the fracture-section analyzes detected in the materials will be reported, and at this stage, it has been determined that the fractures did not start due to fatigue, but the materials exhibited brittle fatigue behavior in the tensile tests. The news about the nitrogen cylinder in the press does not reflect the facts, in fact the fire extinguishing liquid (Non-Flammable/Explosive Halon) was found in the aircraft. “It was determined that there were two 19-kilogram fire extinguishers (gas) fixed inside the aircraft, and that they were found in the aircraft wreckage intact and without any signs of hitting anything,” it said.

Possible causes of the accident were stated as follows:

“It has been evaluated that one of the axles located on the upper part of both wings, together with its tube filled with flammable/non-explosive carbon dioxide gas, came out of its slot and contacted the left tail-fuselage part of the aircraft, and from there the axle may have grasped the vertical stabilizer, and the impact of the tube may have caused structural damage to the fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, which may have caused the aircraft to crash, and metallurgical and technical investigations regarding the findings are continuing in the laboratories. Our people and the public are not responding to provocative statements other than official statements.” “As we have stated before, the final report to be prepared after the completion of the relevant processes will be shared with the public in a transparent manner.”

In the statement, the dinghy considered as the cause of the accident; It is stated that it is a life raft that automatically inflates when triggered, used to ensure that the personnel can safely leave the aircraft and survive when the aircraft has to make an emergency landing at sea or a large body of water.

‘PAST VIOLENT ACTS ARE DISTORTED’

In the statement made by the Ministry, regarding the events held on the anniversary of the founding of the Greek terrorist organization EOKA, “Presenting the violent acts carried out by EOKA in the past on the island of Cyprus as a ‘freedom struggle’ with one-sided and distorted narratives harms the efforts for a permanent solution and the current environment of trust on the island. In this context, the statements and events made on the anniversary of the founding of the EOKA terrorist organization are a clear indication that historical facts continue to be distorted and interpreted. The approach in question is based on Cyprus.” The fact that it is conveyed to children and young people in the Greek Cypriot side weakens the basis for mutual dialogue and understanding on the island. The recent provocative actions targeting civilians in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are the current reflections of this distorted mentality. In this context, the Turkish Cypriot side continues its constructive and well-intentioned attitude towards the establishment of a fair, permanent and sustainable solution on the island. “We express once again that we have taken the necessary measures with determination against all kinds of threats and acts of violence. It is of great importance to avoid attempts that may increase tension on the island and to ensure that common sense prevails, in terms of preserving the peace and tranquility provided by the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation.”