Statement from Minister Kurum on Ayazağa: Özgür Bey is blatantly lying

Murat Kurum answered the questions of the press members before the AK Party TBMM Group meeting. When a journalist reminded New Party Chairman Özel's words towards him, Kurum said, "I don't think an opposition leader would be so unaware of the issues. Mr. Özgür is blatantly lying, slandering, engaging in slander politics. The project in Ayazağa, the proposal of CHP's Sarıyer Municipality, was implemented in 2022 with the approval of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. It is the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality that approved the project in question. Moreover, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is the partner of the project in question. "There is a partnership worth 1 billion 100 million worth of property arising from the land. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is the partner of the project for which he accuses us." he said.

Explaining why the Ministry became a partner in the project, the Authority said that there were 950 eligible citizens in the project and that these people applied to the ministry due to the length of the licensing process.

Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, said: "We carried out the license process so that the victimization of our citizens does not extend. We have demonstrated this will so that our citizens can get their homes as soon as possible. Mr. Özgür is pursuing a policy of trying to believe what he hears on the street. He is attempting to make politics by slandering and lying what he hears, which we call the politics of perception. When we look at all the slanders he has made so far... They said, 'They made him sign a promissory note in the earthquake zone', 'The one in Ayazağa' They said, 'The ministry is the reason for the flood. But in the current process, we neither made our citizens sign the promissory note in the earthquake zone, nor are we the reason for the flood in Ayazağa. Our citizens have not yet gone to Ayazağa.

There, hundreds of our tradesmen's property and lives were damaged. We are going through a process where the reason for this is that the streams are not rehabilitated, the infrastructure is inadequate, and the necessary will is not put into this infrastructure. Municipalities are directly responsible for this. Instead of asking about the work that the municipalities did not do, they are trying to play politics by slandering and trying to create perception, when they should be held accountable. These initiatives will in no way cover up the corruption of their municipalities. This is the effort. I say it very clearly. "As always, we stand by our citizens under the leadership of our President."

"He is trying to cover up his corruption with his polemical politics."

Reminding that he went to Istanbul Ayazağa immediately after the flood disaster, Kurum said that they put forward a will to demolish the illegal buildings on the streams. Stating that the municipality should take this responsibility, Kurum stated that they provided all the necessary support to all victimized citizens under the coordination of AFAD and opened the urban transformation office.

Kurum said: "We gave good news to our citizens that we can carry out urban transformation according to approved plans, either with TOKİ or with the urban transformation directorate, and we are carrying out the process in great harmony with our brothers from Ayazağ and our citizens of Istanbul. This harmony is what Özgür Bey is disturbed about. What Özgür Bey is disturbed about is the completion of 455 thousand houses in the earthquake zone in 2 years. What Özgür Bey is disturbed about is that the government and the opposition met with all the mayors and put forward a will on the point of urban transformation, and today the whole of Europe Our aim is to show our will regarding the housing crisis that it is suffering from, including social housing, earthquake housing and urban transformation housing.

Unfortunately, he is trying to cover up his corruption with the politics of perception and polemics, although he should look in the mirror because his municipalities have not shown any will on this issue. That's the point. They will continue their slander as always. We will continue to do business."

"We do everything for the benefit of our nation"

When a journalist asked about the 500 thousand social housing projects, the Authority stated that approximately 80 thousand of the 500 thousand social housing projects were about to be completed. The institution said that they tendered other houses in stages. The institution said, "As we promised, we will deliver these houses to our citizens in 2028. Earthquake houses are finished. We have delivered the earthquake houses. We will continue to support our citizens with both earthquake houses and social housing. We will reduce the rent burden. We will reduce the rent increase, and thus, we will continue to put a strong will under the leadership of our President on the issue that the whole world is suffering from today." he said.

When asked about the allegations that ILBANK loans were not given to opposition municipalities, the Authority pointed to the statements made by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay. The institution said:

"This is what our Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor explained. He said, 'I want to serve, I want to do useful work for Izmir.' And he clearly stated that he wanted to work with us regarding this. We did not put any pressure or any promise on either the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality or any municipality that joined the AK Party. If you want to work, we said 'our door is open'. Our esteemed President expresses this to everyone. And within this framework, we work with everyone who comes, for the welfare of our nation. With this desire, this desire. "We are implementing our projects. We have kept those promises until today. Mr. Özgür is uncomfortable with the mayors talking to us. He thinks that we in the ministry are putting pressure on the mayors. All of these are lies, all of them are slanders."

"Do you treat the opposition equally?" In response to the question, the Authority said that they treat every mayor who comes to them equally and fairly regarding the work that needs to be done within the authority of our ministry. The institution said, "In this context, no mayor can say that I asked for an appointment from the ministry but could not get it. It may be delayed. Maybe he wants it today, he will get it a week later, he will get it 10 days later. But we will meet with everyone. We will do everything that is for the benefit of our nation." he said.

"We will announce Türkiye's power and leadership to the whole world"

A journalist asked, "The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change is approaching. Has the invitation been sent to the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus?" Murat Kurum reminded that COP31 is a UN Organization.

Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, said: "This is a United Nations Organization, an organization where international climate diplomacy is discussed, in which 196 countries of the United Nations participate, and Türkiye will host it. Therefore, every country that is a member of the UN and is included in the United Nations Secretariat participates here. Each country opens its pavilions here, upon the invitation of the UN, exhibits its projects and expresses its statements on climate. Therefore, here, 196 countries together with the United Nations, Türkiye is in Antalya." It is hosting COP31. In this context, I hope Turkey will host an organization where it will show its stance, attitude and determination in climate diplomacy to the whole world. We will host an organization between 9-20 November, in which nearly 90 leaders, hundreds of ministers, non-governmental organizations, artists, athletes, young people and all segments of the society concerned with climate will participate, and we will hopefully announce Türkiye's power and leadership on this issue to the whole world.

Another journalist asked, "What would you like to say about the earthquake houses in the Southeast?" In response to the question, the Authority reminded that they delivered 455 thousand houses in 11 provinces in December.

Murat Kurum continued as follows: "We are still building our residences, social facilities, green areas and infrastructure projects within the framework of demand. In this way, we are realizing what we call resilient cities. In fact, we want the opposition municipalities to implement similar ones. We wish that these floods do not occur. We wish that our citizens do not suffer any damage to their lives or property. We have seen the problems in Ayazağa together. Yes, it is the biggest rainfall in 83 years, yes, 273 kilograms of rainfall fell per square meter. However, we must ensure adaptation to climate change. We must strengthen the infrastructure of our cities. We must reconsider the sections of the streams. In this context, we must all fulfill our responsibilities. Politics cannot be done based on pain.

Özgür Özel must respect those who believe in him, even if they are those who believe in him. Unfortunately, they continue to recklessly engage in perception politics. But there are also facts on the other side. The facts are clear as day. Today, all of Türkiye has seen the corruption of CHP municipalities and New Party municipalities. He witnessed their theft. Therefore, this effort is an effort to cover up these thefts and corruption. They will not be able to escape this in any way. "