Death of 14,000 Infants in Gaza and Emphasis on Turkic Unity and the Role of the “Middle Corridor”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly condemned the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza during his speech at the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Hungary and warned of the imminent risk of death facing thousands of Palestinian children. He also emphasized the importance of solidarity among Turkic-speaking countries, strengthening cooperation, and the geopolitical role of the “Middle Corridor” project.
Warning About the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
In part of his speech, Erdoğan stated:
“In Gaza, civilians are living in a hell of suffering and siege. According to UN warnings, if humanitarian aid does not arrive in time, 14,000 infants will be at risk of death.”
He stressed the critical role of the Turkic world in ensuring a ceasefire, delivering humanitarian aid, rebuilding Gaza, and initiating a sustainable peace process.
The Turkic World and the East-West Strategic Corridor
Highlighting the historical and cultural significance of Turkic states, Erdoğan described them as “carriers of Eastern traditions and Western dynamism” and added:
“The Turkic world must play a key role in connecting the East and the West.”
He defined the “Middle Corridor” project as a strategic route for secure and sustainable connectivity between Asia and Europe and called on member states to support this initiative.
Support for the Territorial Integrity of Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon
Erdoğan criticized Israel’s “limitless expansionist policies” and called for firm support for the territorial integrity of Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, stating:
“Any indifference to this situation will deepen injustice in the international system.”
Hungary’s Key Role and Strengthening Cultural Cooperation
This summit was held for the first time in a non-member country. Erdoğan praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s hosting and expressed hope that Hungary would strengthen its role as a bridge between the OTS and European institutions. He also called for expanding Hungary’s role in cultural organizations such as TÜRKSOY.
Support for Full Membership of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Erdoğan emphasized the importance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ participation in the organization, stating:
“The Turkic world is incomplete without Northern Cyprus. We expect this country to join the organization as a full member in the near future.”
Honoring Prof. Aziz Sancar
At the summit, Prof. Aziz Sancar, a Turkish scientist and Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, was honored with the Ali-Shir Nava’i International Award presented by the President of Kyrgyzstan.
Conclusion and the Budapest Declaration
At the end of the summit, Erdoğan expressed satisfaction with the decisions made and hoped that the Budapest Declaration would contribute to greater unity within the Turkic world and the expansion of regional cooperation.
