Erdogan: Mecca Agreement to be submitted to Turkish Parliament soon
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about domestic and foreign issues after the 73rd Cabinet meeting in Ankara.
He announced that within the scope of the investigation into the investment fund, legal action was taken against 282 people and 84 people were detained. He added that with the approval of the draft law in parliament, the principal capital will be repaid up to 1 million lira.
Emphasizing that no one, including himself, is immune from criticism in Turkey, Erdogan said: “But no one has the right to attack the dignity of others. Freedom of expression does not mean slandering others.”
Continuing, the Turkish president referred to the building collapse in Istanbul’s Maltepe district that led to the death of 5 citizens, and stressed the need to accelerate urban renewal. He said: “Of two urban renewal projects, we have implemented one in Istanbul. Since 2012, we have renovated 1 million 298 thousand housing units.”
He also announced that the capacity of Turkey’s Employment and Job Placement Organization (İGP) will be increased to 150,000 people for the 2026–2027 academic year, and stated that each young person will be paid 1,375 lira daily, and those who participate in this program for 14 days will earn up to 19,250 lira.
In another part of his speech, Erdogan referred to regional developments and said that efforts to prepare the infrastructure for the “Mecca Agreement” are underway, and this agreement will soon be submitted to the Turkish Parliament.
He sharply criticized the Yemeni army and fighters who defend themselves against Saudi aggression, saying: “We believe that division and disintegration only benefit the evil forces that seek to turn our region into a scene of bloodshed! We stand with Saudi Arabia and our Saudi brothers and sisters!”
Erdogan added: “Turkey’s stance, sensitivities, and principles to which it adheres are clear. We never look at events through an ethnic or sectarian lens. We want peace and stability throughout our region. We will continue to defend peace and strive to achieve it on the basis of regional ownership.”
At the end of his speech, he emphasized: “Our intention is to manage this process transparently and without using public resources. Protecting the rights and law of our people is our red line. Anyone who profits through speculation will pay the price.”
