President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at his meeting with Turkish citizens in London. Erdoğan said, “Disrespectful leaders of some respected countries in the world still use the expression Islam as terrorism. Islam is a religion of peace. You cannot put Islam as an adjective next to terrorism. I curse those who use this expression.” he said.
Erdogan met with Turkish citizens and the Muslim community in England at the Old Billingsgate building in London, where he came for the NATO Leaders’ Summit.
Making a speech here, Erdoğan greeted the citizens and said, “From here, through you, Asians, Africans, Turkestanis, whose hearts beat with us,
My greetings to the oppressed people of Kashmir, Rakhine, Yemen, Libya and Syria.
I’m sending. “I convey the same love to my Palestinian brothers who protect Jerusalem, our first qibla, at the expense of their lives,” he said.
Expressing his happiness in coming together with Turkish citizens and the Muslim community on the occasion of the NATO Leaders Summit, Erdoğan thanked those who filled the hall for their love, affection and keeping their covenant.
Erdoğan also expressed his gratitude to Cordoba Foundation President Enes El Tikriti, who made a speech at the program, on behalf of all the NGOs here.
Stating that they brought a lot of love from Turkey, Erdoğan said that he knows that the Turks living here follow their homeland, father’s house, homeland and the nation they belong to very closely.
President Erdoğan said, “I am aware that your prayers and support are always with us during this critical period that our country is going through. Some of you migrated to these lands for education, some for sustenance, and some of you migrated here to establish a better, freer life for yourself during the times when our country was struggling with tutelage. “When you came, you left behind your tearful families, friends, and loved ones who never saw you apart from their lives.” he said.
Erdoğan, who read lines from the poem “From the Burcu of Migration” by Erdem Bayazıt, one of the “7 beautiful men” of Turkish literature, said that the Turks living here have built brand new lives for themselves, thousands of kilometers away from their homeland, and are not afraid of difficulties, and that “If there is faith, there is opportunity.” He said that he turned abroad into a home and that he proudly represented the Turkish nation, whose history is full of glorious victories.
Reminding that elections will be held in England on the 12th of the month, President Erdoğan said, “As our president has just stated, you must play a decisive role in this election, and I believe that you will. I would like to thank each and every one of you on behalf of my country and my nation. May God protect you from all kinds of troubles.” I say.” he said.
“Türkiye IS IN SAFE HANDS”
Today, there is a much stronger Türkiye than 17 years ago. Today, there is a determined Turkey that does not play games with ease, but creates and spoils games in its region. Today, there is a generous country that does not lend a hand for a few billion dollars, but rather provides the most humanitarian aid in proportion to national income in the world. Today, there is a Turkey that has grown its economy 3.5 times compared to 2002, increased its national income per capita from 3 thousand 500 dollars to 9 thousand 700 dollars, and is breaking records in export figures every year. Today, we have a Turkey that has completed its transportation infrastructure with double roads, bridges, high-speed train lines, tunnels, intersections, bridges, viaducts, the world’s top three largest airports, and new bridges connecting Asia to Europe. Today, there is a Turkey with a strong navy that defends its rights and protects its interests in the Aegean, Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. “Today, there is a Turkey that embraces and protects more than 4 million oppressed and victimized people who take shelter in it.”
Emphasizing that there is no other country in the world that hosts so many refugees on its own, other than Turkey, Erdoğan said:
“Among these 4 million refugees, approximately 3 million 250 thousand are Arabs, 350 thousand are Kurds, the rest are Yazidis, Chaldeans, Aramaic. There is a Turkey that feeds all of these without any discrimination. Of course, there is one thing that is important. Okay. What has the European Union done? Although the European Union has promised so far and said ‘I will support 3 plus 3, that is 6 billion euros’ in 2016, unfortunately only 3 billion euros of support has been given to our Red Crescent, AFAD etc. through international NGOs. “So this money does not enter our national budget. What are we doing? Our investments there have exceeded 30 billion dollars so far. This is the difference of Turkey.”
“Today, there is a Turkey with an independent foreign policy that organizes operations for its own national security without seeking anyone’s permission.” Using the statement, President Erdoğan continued as follows:
“Of course, everyone gives us advice, ‘What are you doing in Syria?’ They ask us, ‘When will you leave Syria?’ Of course, we have only one answer to them: What are you doing in Syria? Your border with Syria Is there? No. So, what are you doing? You come there from 10 thousand kilometers, you come there from 3 thousand, 5 thousand kilometers, but we have a border of 911 kilometers. These terrorists, these YPG/PYD, DAESH, PKK, all these, all these with mortars and missiles at any time. They are shooting at the border, at all our border cities. We are giving martyrs, we have wounded, and in the face of all this, what can we expect with our hands tied? Yes, we are there, we will not leave there until we clear it of these terrorists. I say this very clearly and sincerely; We have our eyes on Syria’s territory. “No, but those who have eyes should please leave.”
Emphasizing that they are a Turkey with a strong diplomacy that defends not only the security of 82 million but also the rights of 6.5 million citizens living abroad, Erdoğan said, “All these are signs that Turkey is self-confident, believes in itself, and is reactivating its potential after many years. There is no doubt that these achievements are It all belongs to all of us, it is the work of all of us. This success is, first of all, the success of our beloved nation, which defends its state, its will, its democracy, its independence and future at the expense of its life when necessary, as on the night of July 15. Turkey is coming to these points by acting with a spirit of full mobilization. I ask you to keep your hearts at peace, “I want you to believe in Turkey and trust your state.” he said.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that a larger hall could not be found for the meeting and therefore approximately a thousand citizens were outside, and some citizens remained standing inside and wished well-being.
“ALL THE TRAPS ARE COLLAPSE”
Pointing out that Turkey is taking determined steps to guarantee both its own survival and the future of its region, Erdoğan made the following assessment:
“With Turkey’s efforts, a new world is being established, with solidarity instead of conflict, justice instead of oppression, and peace instead of fighting. All the traps set for our country through weapons, death, pain, blood, oppression and threats are collapsing. Turkey is being tamed with terrorism and blackmail.” “Those who think they will achieve it are experiencing the embarrassment of not being able to achieve their goals. 82 million continue their blessed journey in full solidarity, adding peace to their peace and strengthening their brotherhood.”
Underlining that the relationship between Turkey and the United Kingdom has a history of more than 400 years, President Erdoğan pointed out that they see this deep-rooted cooperation developing, deepening, gaining new dimensions and getting stronger day by day.
Pointing out that there is a dynamic and productive Turkish community in the United Kingdom with a population of up to half a million, Erdoğan said, “With your presence here, you are building a human bridge between our countries. Today, we have a much more active, much more organized diaspora in this country compared to 15-20 years ago.” “Turkish society also plays a critical role in the development of relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom. We are proud that our citizens are increasingly present, especially in commercial life.” he said.
Pointing out that Turkish entrepreneurs have made significant contributions to the UK economy with the projects, partnerships and businesses they have established in different sectors, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “With your efforts, do you know what the target we set as two countries at the beginning of 2017 was? We have almost reached the bilateral trade volume target of 20 billion dollars.” “In 2018, our bilateral trade increased by 14 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 18 billion 600 million dollars.” said.
“TOURISM FIGURES ARE INCREASING DOUBLE”
Pointing out that tourism figures are increasing exponentially every year, Erdoğan stated that they hosted 2 million 250 thousand tourists from the United Kingdom in 2018, and that this figure reached 2 million 443 thousand with an increase of 13.5 percent in the first 10 months of this year.
President Erdoğan said, “Hopefully, we will complete 2019 with a record in tourism figures. I believe that this momentum we have achieved will continue to grow stronger in every field, from economy to tourism, from defense industry to investments.” said.
Stating that he wanted to make a self-criticism on this issue, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:
“Unfortunately, we see that our citizens cannot adequately reflect the success they have achieved in economic life to the political arena. However, the unique conditions of the United Kingdom make this necessary. The power of a Turkish diaspora, which lacks a political and civil society dimension, to influence the policies that concern its own future will also weaken. Civilians with high national sensitivities “We need community organizations perhaps more in the United Kingdom than in many other places. For this, we expect you to act in a much more organized, organized and solidarity manner.”
Emphasizing that the work and steps to be taken by all non-governmental organizations in these areas are very important, Erdoğan said, “If you do not bring despair and self-insecurity closer to your door, no one can hinder you, with God’s permission. If you are united around the same ideals, no one can divide or tear you apart. ” he said.
- Türkiye is taking steps to ensure both its own survival and the confidence of the region.
- Those who think they can discipline Turkey with terrorism and blackmail are feeling the embarrassment of not being able to achieve their goals.
- Turkish society also plays a critical role in the development of relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom.
- We have lost many victims to terrorism for 40 years. While all this was happening, no one knocked on our door. We say this to those who give us advice in the fight against terrorism: You keep your mind to yourself.
- Some disrespectful leaders of some respectable countries in the world still use the expression ‘Islamic terrorism’. We cannot accept this. Islam is a religion of peace. You can never bring terrorism closer to our religion, you can never put Islam as an adjective next to terrorism. I curse those who use this expression.
- Assimilation efforts have not yet yielded results in any country in the world and will not yield results.
– Recently, we see that racism has increased throughout Europe and that Turkish communities are its targets. Rising hostility to Islam is not only our problem, but the problem of the entire Western society.
