Erdogan’s statements after the Cabinet meeting on Turkey’s issues
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about domestic issues, foreign policy, the economy, and press freedom after a Cabinet meeting that lasted about three hours at the Presidential Complex.
At the beginning, referring to the mine explosion in Zonguldak, he expressed condolences for three miners killed and referred to the crash of a military vehicle in Ankara, offering condolences to the family.
Erdogan, referring to developments in Europe, said that those who, learning from events in Europe, are thinking of taking a similar step in Turkey should know that Turkey is not a country to be left to the street, and that maintaining calm and domestic stability in the period ahead is more important for it. He thanked citizens for their prudence.
In the foreign policy section, Erdogan called the approval of the maritime jurisdiction agreement with Libya in that country’s House of Representatives a major step and said this agreement guarantees the legitimate rights of Turkey and Libya in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He added that Ankara has made Turkey’s interests its only criterion in foreign policy, stands against those who fuel fire in the region, and strives to end bloodshed. He also emphasized support for the rights of Turkey’s brothers, kinsmen, and friends from the Balkans to Turkic-speaking countries.
In the economic section, Erdogan, referring to submitting the 2027 budget bill to parliament, said that financial resources are foreseen in this budget to improve the situation of retirees and he hopes the needed legal amendment will be operational by the end of the year.
In response to criticism about press freedom, he said the Turkish government has no problem with either press freedom or critical voices, and in this country hundreds of TV channels and thousands of radio stations operate with different views. According to him, everyone can express their opinions as long as the content of their words does not include insult, lies, and misinformation.
