President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the nation after the Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.
Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements:
We discussed additional measures that can be taken in schools. We will complete the construction of a safe school climate.
Dear friends, since our last meeting, we have continued to work hard and serve our country and our beloved nation with love. We fought to bring Türkiye to its rightful place in the world, with mass opening ceremonies at home and international meetings abroad. We had a full agenda, especially in the field of foreign policy.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES
On September 8, we hosted the Sultans of the Net, who made our nation proud by becoming European champions for the second time in a row, in our Social Complex. On behalf of myself and my nation, I once again wholeheartedly congratulate our National Women's Volleyball Team, which repeated the victory we achieved in Belgium three years ago, this time at home, with a magnificent comeback. Likewise, I congratulate our national boxer Buse Naz Sürmeneli, who won the gold medal in the 70 kilo category at the 2026 European Boxing Championships, and wish her successes to continue to increase. While our national athletes make 86 million people proud with their significant achievements, we continue to enlighten the future of our 81 provinces with works, investments and projects. The trust placed upon us by our nation obliges us to mobilize every moment, every day, for Türkiye. We strive to do justice to this sacred trust in the best way possible.
A WORK EXCEEDING 10 BILLION LIRAS FOR RİZE
On September 11, we were in our hometown, Rize, to inaugurate our completed investments and to lay the foundations of our new works. We have put 26 projects at the service of our citizens of Rize, from TOKİ residences to public gardens, from new workplaces to schools and student dormitories, from culture and art centers and sports facilities. We laid the foundations of three new investments that will be completed in a short time. I hope that these works and investments, whose total value exceeds 10 billion liras, will be beneficial to our Rize and our country once again.
We visited Samsun on September 13th. Our Samsun City Hospital, which we built on an area of 234 thousand square meters, will serve our city with a bed capacity of 1,458, 230 intensive care beds, 40 operating rooms with the latest technology, and 320 polyclinics. I hope that this tremendous investment of 17 billion liras will be beneficial for our Samsun, our region and our nation, and I congratulate those who contributed.
NEW RUNWAY FOR ISTANBUL AIRPORT
We had the pleasure of bringing another new work to Istanbul on September 18th. The opposition said, "A plane won't land here." As you know, our Istanbul Airport has been breaking records since the first day it was opened. "What's an airport doing in a place like this, where no birds fly and no caravans pass by?" This work, which they decried by saying, hosted 84.5 million passengers last year.
We implemented the triple independent parallel runway operation in April 2025. Thus, our airport became the second in the world and the first in Europe among the centers where independent landings and takeoffs can be made from three runways at the same time. We have further strengthened this with the fourth main runway we put into service. With the fourth main runway of 2,820 meters long, with an investment value of 890 million euros, the total number of runways of our airport has increased to six. I hope that our new runway, which shortens waiting times, saves fuel, time and emissions, and increases take-off and landing safety to the highest level even in adverse weather conditions, will be auspicious.
APPOINTMENT ON VETERANS DAY
On September 19, when we commemorated Veterans Day, we appointed our martyrs' relatives, veterans and veterans' relatives to public institutions. Together with our 571 brothers and sisters who started their new duties, we increased the number of relatives of martyrs, veterans and relatives of veterans employed in the public sector to 53 thousand 179.
First of all, we are all very clearly aware of this. We can never fully repay the rights of our martyrs who fought hard for our independence and future, our veterans who paid the price for our unity and solidarity, and the relatives of our martyrs who braved conscience and hardship. However, as a state, we strive to do our best within our means. Hopefully, we will continue to take care of the legacy of our martyrs and make the lives of our martyrs' families, veterans and relatives of veterans easier with the regulations we implement and the steps we take. I wish success from God Almighty to our newly appointed brothers and sisters in their path of serving our nation. I remember our martyrs with mercy. May God bless all the families of our martyrs who did not succumb to provocations and did not compromise their dignity, their fortitude, and their noble stance that set an example for all of us.
ADDRESS TO THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
On September 20, we went to New York to attend the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations. This year, I addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the 16th time on the second day of the talks held with the theme "Rebuilding trust, managing transformation".
In our speech, we shared the recipe for a new order with the world in 5 items. We expressed our opinions regarding the solution of the wars and conflicts around us, especially in Palestine, Russia, Ukraine and Iran. The state terrorism perpetrated by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank was again at the top of our agenda.
Unfortunately, the President of Palestine, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, could not address the General Assembly in person this year due to visa restrictions. It is a shame for humanity that Mr. Abbas cannot be there while the foul-mouthed, blood-smelling, righteous criminals find a place at the United Nations podium to list their lies. I would like to state once again that this injustice makes consciences bleed.
"TODAY THERE IS A STRONGER TURKEY COMPARED TO THE PAST"
Of course, we spoke there that day not only on behalf of our nation, but also on behalf of the Palestinian oppressed and Lebanese innocents. We will not step back from this. We will never change our stance, we will continue to shout out the truth and tell the truth with courage until those who committed crimes against humanity, shed the blood of 74 thousand of our Gazan brothers, and terrorized our region from Lebanon to Syria are held accountable before the law.
I find it useful to know this here as well. Today, there is a stronger Republic of Türkiye than in the past. Today, there is a Republic of Türkiye that looks to its future with more hope compared to the past, instills confidence in those around it, and is trusted by its friends. Most importantly, today there is a Republic of Türkiye that has re-established the thousand-year-old law of brotherhood at home and embraced its neighbors abroad. We are a state that thinks big, takes big steps, sets big goals and moves towards those goals with determination. With God's permission, we will walk patiently until the end of this road.
"TURKEVI BECAME THE CENTER OF DIPLOMACY"
My dear nation, our Turkish House, which we brought to our country five years ago, right across from the United Nations, has once again become a center where the heart of diplomacy beats. We hosted many heads of state and government in our Turkish House. During our stay in New York, we held bilateral meetings with a total of 17 heads of state and government.
Upon the invitation of Mr. Trump, we attended the meeting attended by America and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and shared our opinions on the restoration of peace and stability in the region. We came together with the American business world and evaluated investment opportunities in our country. We felt sorry for our friends and brothers in America, as well as our citizens living in different states where the Turkish-American Muslim community is present. I hope that the contacts, meetings and meetings we held on the occasion of the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations will once again be beneficial for our country, our nation and the oppressed geographies.
On September 26, we attended the closing ceremony of the 21st MÜSİAD EXPO International Trade Fair and the 29th International Business Forum. I hope that both the fair and the business forum will open doors to new partnerships, and I congratulate MÜSİAD for their efforts.
FUNDING INVESTIGATION: EVERYONE WHO TREACHES THE RIGHTS OF THE NATION WILL FIND US AGAINST
Dear members of the press, dear friends, in today's Cabinet meeting, we had the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the fund issue, which has been on the agenda since September 17. Our Minister of Justice and our Minister of Treasury and Finance made a comprehensive presentation. They informed our cabinet members about the steps taken so far. As you know, we announced to the public how we approached this issue at the press conference we held on our return to New York.
Today, I would like to express it clearly once again. Whoever lays his hands on the nation's rights, laws, goods and property will find us, our state, against them. No one should confuse us with others. No one should compare us to those who go from square to square and city to city to defend billions of dollars of corruption. We are not like them. Our red line is our beloved nation. Our attitude is clear when it comes to our nation. We neither violate rights nor condone the violation of citizens' rights. We never try to defend those who violate rights like others. That's the difference between us.
When it comes to the peace of our people, the economic security, welfare and development of 86 million people, we do not hesitate in the slightest. We have already demonstrated our determination on this issue beyond any doubt. We closely follow the developments in our capital markets. Our economic staff works intensively in coordination with our other responsible units. We quickly ensure that the necessary steps are taken in consultation with our relevant friends.
"IT OCCURRED IN A LIMITED SECTION OF THE FUND MARKET"
Here I would like to remind you of this fact again. Today, Türkiye has an economic size approaching two trillion dollars. Türkiye's financial system is strong. The problem occurred in a limited part of the fund market. There is no risk that has spread to our financial system. Turkish capital market is resilient. Its foundations are solid. Thank God, he has the capacity to easily overcome this test.
Whoever claims otherwise would be doing a great injustice to the Turkish stock market, the Turkish economy and the Turkish people. No one, including opposition figures, has the right to harm our economy or unsettle investors just for the sake of gaining political positions.
I especially underline this point. No reason can justify disparaging one's own country by writing articles to foreign media outlets. Today, once again, I refer the mentality of asking for help from the elders of the West through letters of complaint to the deep wisdom of our nation. Such a mentality will not bring any benefit to the country or the nation. Today, as in the last 25 years, we have no other concern than to increase the reputation of Türkiye, for which we sacrificed our lives, to be individual, to properly represent the Turkish nation, of which we have always been proud, all over the world, and to protect the rights and laws of 86 million people.
"WE ARE ACTING EXTREMELY CAREFULLY"
My dear citizens, due to the nature of capital markets, we act extremely carefully. Work on the liquidation process of closed funds is carried out meticulously. Necessary investigations are being carried out against those who make unfair profits by playing tricks on both funds and stocks. Those who are found to be involved in market distortion activities through funds will be held accountable before the law.
Of course, another critical issue here is to prevent a similar problem from occurring again. We are also working on this. Hopefully, we will quickly implement administrative and legal regulations that will make the functioning of our capital markets much healthier. Everyone should be assured of this and be of good cheer. Relevant institutions of our state are working intensively. Tomorrow, we will meet with our economic staff and the managers of our responsible institutions, and all necessary steps will be taken within the capital market institutions, within the boundaries of the state of law, under the guidance of moral conscience.
