AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered the questions of journalists close to the government on the plane returning from Azerbaijan after a series of visits.
Erdoğan made the following statement before the interview:
"Dear friends, Turkey and Azerbaijan are two brotherly countries connected to each other with unbreakable ties. Despite the focus of discord, we have crowned our cooperation with mega projects in many strategic areas, especially energy, transportation and infrastructure. I hope we will further strengthen our solidarity with the new steps we will take. We evaluated all these issues in my meeting with my brother Ilham. We also talked about the latest regional developments with him. During my visit, I personally witnessed the development moves carried out in Karabakh under the leadership of my brother Ilham. Just like during its liberation as Türkiye. We are providing all the support we can for the development of Karabakh. As I stated at the joint press conference today, we are pleased to bring the Turkey-Azerbaijan International Forestry Training Center and Nursery Facility to Karabakh. Hopefully, we plan to open our school, which will be an exemplary work with 40 classrooms, two laboratories and a library. As Turkey and Azerbaijan, we are two brothers who have one heart and one wrist in joy and sorrow, facing all kinds of difficulties together. "With God's permission, no one can cast a shadow on the love, solidarity and brotherhood between us. We showed this truth to the whole world once again during our visit today. I hope that our visit will be beneficial for the brotherhood and solidarity between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and I would like to thank my brother Ilham once again for his kind hosting."
The questions posed to Erdoğan and the AKP President's answers are as follows:
TENSION WITH AZERBAIJAN: WE ARE TIGHTLY BONDED
QUESTION: There have been various speculations for a while. But you always gave good messages about the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Today, you declared the strongest of those messages from Shusha. Despite all these focuses on discord, how do you evaluate Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations?
As we always say at the commemoration in Karabakh, there was the solidarity of two powerful states that guided their relations with the understanding of "one nation, two states". My brother Ilham Aliyev and I hugged sincerely and reconciled our longing. Those who seek separation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan are engaged in a futile effort. There is complete solidarity, common destiny and brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. We will raise the strong voice of Turks in our region and in the world together with our other brothers and build a prosperous future together. Those who try to put distance between us do not take into account our nations' love for each other, their historical ties and their unshakable will. Hopefully, Türkiye and Azerbaijan will continue to walk shoulder to shoulder for the peace, stability and prosperity of their region.
QUESTION: What should be done against the traps of those who want to destroy this brotherhood? What is the message you want to give to the Turkish World and the Azerbaijani people on this issue? I want to ask this.
It is known that this union disturbs some people above all else. It is enough to look at history to see what steps Türkiye, Azerbaijan and other Turkish states can take when they act together. We are different states. Along with all this, we have different institutional structures. But at the same time, we are tightly bonded by the bond of brotherhood. This mortar is the most important element that keeps us standing and makes us strong. This brotherhood is one of the strongest guarantees of our common history, common culture and the great legacy we will leave to future generations. Those who understand that they cannot destroy us without wearing this down may try to damage our unity and solidarity. We must be especially careful and vigilant against such games. We should not rely on disinformation and operate direct, sincere and open communication channels on every issue. At the Organization of Turkic States Summit in Ankara, he said, "There is no room for separation, discord or conflict in the family picture of the Turkish world. We are all one, we are together. I hope we are brothers from eternity to eternity." I particularly emphasized this by saying: Because unity and solidarity suit us, not separation.
US ATTACKS ON IRAN: I EXPLAINED OUR RESERVATIONS TO TRUMP
QUESTION: Tension has risen again between the USA and Iran. It was claimed that Qeshm Island was targeted. There is an expectation in the region that the war will accelerate again. You also discussed these issues with US President Mr. Trump. How would you evaluate this high blood pressure in the region?
Friends, we do not want a new wave of attacks against Iran to be launched and our region to be dragged into further instability. We express at every opportunity that it is possible to solve problems through dialogue and diplomacy. Unfortunately, we can talk about a negative movement again. We are doing our best to prevent this. I discussed these issues with American President Mr. Trump and explained our reservations. We conveyed to the parties that we are ready to step in to open the door to peace and diplomacy. We hope common sense will prevail and we, as a region, will return from the edge of the cliff. More conflict means nothing but more losses for our region. It is not only the conflicting parties that pay the price of war. Unfortunately, a very wide geography from Türkiye to the Gulf countries, from Iraq to Syria, from Europe to Asia is affected by all these developments.
RUSSIAN-UKRAINE WAR: WE ARE READY AGAIN FOR ISTANBUL
QUESTION: Representatives of the United States, Ukraine and Russia are expected to meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11. I wonder if you will have a meeting or contact with Mr. Putin before this critical meeting. Also, what outcome do you expect from the negotiations in Abu Dhabi? Because you also met with Zelenskiy recently. Can we move to a new stage in ending the Russia-Ukraine War?
We are working hard to end this war. We follow and support Mr. Trump's efforts with appreciation. Türkiye has shown its stance in favor of solution and peace since the beginning of this war, despite all kinds of reactions. Remember the reactions from Europe in the past to our continued relations and contacts with two warring states. Meanwhile, we have faced many criticisms, from statements accusing us of violating sanctions to accusing us of non-compliance. We said, "We are on the side of a just peace in this issue." The accuracy of our fair attitude is more visible today. Today, we say, "This bloodshed must stop." Türkiye has proven time and time again that it takes responsibility. We have talked about these issues with Mr. Putin many times, but we will talk again. As you know, we talked with Mr. Zelenskiy last week, and we will talk again. We are in contact with Mr. Trump, European leaders and all sides of the issue. The negotiation ground we established in Istanbul, our grain corridor initiative and the role we played in prisoner exchanges are unique examples of Türkiye's key position for peace. As Türkiye, we are ready to make Istanbul the center of negotiations again when necessary and to use people-oriented diplomacy with all its instruments. We are hopeful. We are much more hopeful for peace
COP31 SUMMIT: WE CARE ABOUT CLIMATE JUSTICE
QUESTION: Türkiye is on the eve of hosting an international summit again. After a very successful NATO Summit, preparations for COP31 in Antalya have been completed and are starting. What do you expect from this summit as Türkiye? What will we, as Türkiye, tell the world?
I believe that; COP31 will be a platform where Türkiye's vision on this issue will be better understood by the masses. We do not approach any issue "as if". If we focus on a problem, we produce concrete, sustainable solutions and present our road map. The climate problem is both today's problem and, if precautions are not taken, it is tomorrow's problem in a more severe form. Let's not forget that the world is our home and we have no right to pollute it. In Antalya, we will talk about the most concrete steps that will secure the common future of humanity. At COP31, we do not just bring leaders together, make speeches and issue declarations. Our goal is to make this summit a platform where concrete results are produced and countries turn their commitments into practice. Because now is the time to take action, not just words on paper. We attach importance to the issue we call climate justice. Many topics will be on our agenda, from raising awareness in every field to green industrialization, from resilient cities to climate practices.
CYPRUS PROBLEM: ISOLATION MUST END NOW
QUESTION: You had both messages and calls regarding the recognition and support of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, both at the Organization of Turkish States Summit and on many international grounds. In this context, what are Türkiye's recent expectations? What steps might be taken in this regard in the new period?
Friends, we will never leave the Turkish Cypriot people alone and helpless. The whole world should know this and memorize it. The Cyprus issue is not just a foreign policy issue for us. We do not see deadlock in Cyprus as a solution and we stand behind the two-state solution. Our stance on Cyprus is also very clear. The fact that there are two separate peoples and two separate states on the island must now be accepted. Models that have been tried many times and failed each time with various games are a waste of time and energy. I invite all states, especially our friends and brothers, to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and establish political, diplomatic and economic relations with them in order to support permanent peace on the Island of Cyprus. As I said from the rostrum of the United Nations, the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people must be registered, and the inhuman isolation to which they are subjected must come to an end. In the new period, we will continue to take steps within the framework of this call and stand by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on international platforms. Steps and projects that will increase the visibility of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue. The Cyprus issue is a national cause that we will follow until justice is served. Now everyone should know this
'PROCESS' MESSAGE: THERE IS A WORD CALLED 'HURRY SLOWLY'
QUESTION: I would like to ask a question regarding the stage we have reached in the Terror-Free Türkiye, Terror-Free Zone process. Of course, after detection and confirmation, a National Security Council decision is on the road map of the process. At what stage are we at today? When do you think the National Security Council decision will reach the stage where it can mature and be shared with the public?
First of all, no one should hesitate about this. Nobody should worry. As both the People's Alliance and the state, we have put not only our hands but also our bodies into the Terror-Free Türkiye process. Our nation and state have made their decision, determined the road map and taken action to solve the terrorism issue that has cost half a century. There will be no turning back from this. Our priority is for the organization to complete the dissolution process with all its elements, to surrender its weapons in full, and for this situation to be concretely identified and confirmed by the relevant institutions of our state. The field is not empty. Every step, every move is closely followed by the relevant institutions of our state and our government. The caves are evacuated according to a certain plan. This will continue as is. I believe that the Monitoring Commission will hopefully be established in a short time. The commission chaired by our Vice President Cevdet Bey continues its work. The subcommittee will also start working soon. Some people actually did not think that the process would go smoothly this far. But we took a very determined stance on this issue. Rather than giving an exact date, we are focused on completing the process in a healthy, complete and irreversible manner. Latin for "Hurry up slowly." There is a saying called "Festina lente" which means "Festina lente". We act carefully but quickly, God forbid, we do not want to cause a road accident. Our hope is that the confirmation and detection stages will be completed in the not too distant future and hopefully the National Security Council decision stage will be reached. All our efforts are for this.
