Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, said, “As Turkey, we have gained great momentum. In other words, we have gained an important momentum in being strong again, in a big way, as a strong country in the world, both in solving regional problems and in global equations.” he said.
Kurtulmuş met with the Global Journalists Council delegation, which was in the country for various programs, in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, where he paid official visits.
Speaking here, Kurtulmuş stated that Turkey has done very important and proud work in the Balkans in recent years and that they maintain good relations with all Balkan countries without discrimination.
“We think that ensuring trust and stability in the Balkans should be the main issue, the most basic idea.” Kurtulmuş said that great suffering was experienced, especially after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, and that now the countries have gained their independence and their own national identities.
Emphasizing that the Balkan countries should also have a fully independent framework, Kurtulmuş noted that it is the priority of every country and every people to feel safe in the Balkan geography.
Kurtulmuş said, “We know that trust is essential for stability. This is Turkey’s basic function and we are simultaneously improving our relations with all countries. We are making real efforts to solve the problems between the Balkan countries and Turkey has an extraordinarily good, positive image in the Balkan countries. “We continue to increase this.” he said.
Pointing out that cultural diplomacy institutions work very well, especially in the Balkan geography, as in many parts of the world, Kurtulmuş said that TİKA, Yunus Emre Institute, Maarif Foundation and General Directorate of Foundations followed the footsteps of our ancestors in the Balkans and unearthed ancient artifacts there.
“We need to struggle to spread the relationship of friendship and brotherhood”
Reminding that important steps have been taken to improve the situation of the Turkish population in the Balkan countries, Kurtulmuş said that the 21 December Turkish Education Day, which was accepted in North Macedonia in 1944 and has been celebrated strongly since the early 2000s, is a good example of this.
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Kurtulmuş, continued as follows:
“The Balkan countries are a place where we have some footprints and history. I gave an example yesterday. What Gjorge Ivanov said was, ‘The most important system for living together in peace that humanity has seen was the Ottoman nation system.’ The Ottoman Empire was able to keep all different religions, sects and dispositions together in the Balkan geography for six centuries. We know that this has a positive historical perception. That is why we need to fight to spread friendship and brotherhood relations here with all our means. Both our cultural diplomacy institutions and businessmen… For example, Turkish businessmen create approximately ten thousand jobs in this country, and they are carrying out large projects in other Balkan countries, especially in the transportation and defense industry. “Our collaborations in these fields are increasing in the Balkan geography. These are good things.”
Stating that the geography in which Turkey is located is the most problematic and troubled geography in the world, Kurtulmuş emphasized that Turkey is a strong country.
Kurtulmuş said, “As Turkey, we have gained a great momentum. In other words, we have gained an important momentum in being strong again, in a big way, in the world, as a strong country both in solving regional problems and in global equations. I hope it will be possible for us to continue this by increasing.” made his assessment.
“Türkiye shares its peaceful perspective with both sides”
Drawing attention to the conflict areas in the region, Kurtulmuş said that Turkey always has a peace perspective in these conflicts.
Kurtulmuş stated that Turkey is making efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war peacefully, which has completely affected Europe and left a strong impact on the world.
Stating that the peace process between the two countries, which came down to a final signature during the Dolmabahçe talks, was terminated by some countries that did not want the war to end, Kurtulmuş continued his speech as follows:
“At this point now, I am hopeful considering the conditions and I think that a new opportunity has emerged to end this war. I hope that it will be possible to achieve a permanent, fair peace that will be accepted by both sides. Turkey already shares its peaceful perspective with both sides here too And we are trying to influence it. Of course, the peace there will bring about a relief that will affect us as well.”
“Oppositions acted quickly and got results”
Kurtulmuş also drew attention to the developments in Syria and said that some circles about the overthrow of the Baath regime said, “It happened very quickly.” He said that he made comments like:
TBMM Speaker Kurtulmuş said, “No, where did it happen quickly? There is a regime of oppression that has been going on for 61 years. The cup overflowed. When the conditions became suitable, the opponents acted quickly and got results there.” he said.
Emphasizing that, as Türkiye, they pointed out three basic issues in Syria, Kurtulmuş stated that they made extraordinary efforts to protect the territorial integrity of Syria and ensure this.
Stating that a management model should be established in Syria in which all social segments are represented, ethnic, sectarian and religious differences are involved and can be gathered under the same umbrella, Kurtulmuş said that for this, Turkey has a duty to provide democratic guidance in the developments in Syria. expressed. Kurtulmuş said that he would be successful in this regard as well.
“Now Israel has been touched and held accountable.”
Underlining the need to ensure that all terrorist organizations that have made Syria a haven for terrorism are cleared from Syrian territory, Kurtulmuş said:
“A new Syria will be established. In this new Syria, it is very clear that there will be millions of Syrians who are friends of Turkey and love Turkey and the Turks. When they go to their homeland, their return in safety, peace and dignity is ensured, a great deal beyond our expectations.” “We hope and know that the Turkey-admiring crowd will be effective in Syria. Therefore, reducing the tension there is one of Turkey’s important priorities.”
Kurtulmuş stated that a structure in which all social groups are represented in Syria should be established and that Turkey would provide serious support in this regard.
“The end of the tension here will relieve other countries in the region.” Kurtulmuş said, “Our hope is that this process will not be too long, but that the transition process will be ensured in a very deep-rooted manner and that a Syria will be established in which all segments are represented.” he said.
Kurtulmuş underlined that Israel must be stopped so that humanity can build the next process.
Expressing that Israel must be held accountable for the genocides, Kurtulmuş stated that the decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli administrators have started a new era for humanity.
Kurtulmuş said that in previous years, when it was said that “the International Court of Justice would issue a decision against Israel”, no one would believe it. He emphasized that in the past there was an image of “Israel cannot be touched” and said:
“Now Israel has been touched, it has been called to account. We hope that Netanyahu and his team will be held to account at the International Criminal Court, just like Radovan Karadzic. This is a new turning point in human history. Let me be clear here, too, that every effort on earth is involved in achieving this result.” The millions of people who take to the streets and demonstrate, especially in Western countries, have a huge impact. So, we have been calling it the ‘humanity front’ from the very beginning. We see that such a result has emerged as a result of this reaction. There were many countries, even Western countries, that said ‘We will implement it.’ From the first moment, from the moment the decision was heard, all of them were Israel. It shows that a new era has begun in terms of society. It will no longer be a world where people can wave their hands and arms as they wish, because this is one of the heaviest oppressions and genocides that have ever been experienced throughout history. “
“These are good days for Israel”
Kurtulmuş stated that a sovereign State of Palestine with its territorial integrity should be established within the 1967 borders.
Emphasizing that a result must be obtained that guarantees the protection of the holy places of Muslims and Christians, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and ensures that those who usurp the homes of Palestinians are removed from these places, Kurtulmuş stated that a new process has begun for both the Palestinian side and the Israeli side.
Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Kurtulmuş said, “Frankly, these are good days for the Israelis, and I predict that they will go through more difficult and troubled days.” made his assessment.
Pointing out that Turkey has a privileged place in the process, Kurtulmuş stated that 4 decisions were taken in the Turkish Grand National Assembly regarding Palestine, 2 of which were Presidential Memorandums.
Pointing out that the decisions were made by the alliance of political parties, Kurtulmuş reminded that Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas spoke at the extraordinary General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Kurtulmuş, said:
“During this period, Mr. Mahmud Abbas spoke only in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. We wish that he would also speak in the parliaments of other countries. In that meeting, members of parliament from all political parties took their place in the sessions of the Parliament. I would like to say that Turkey will be very successful from now on. It will continue on its way as an effective country. May God grant us peace and unity within us. During this period, Turkey will not only end terrorism outside its borders, but also prevent Turkey from ever being subjected to terrorism again. “We need to fulfill all our responsibilities in order to make it a country where people do not talk and will not be talked about.”
Kurtulmuş, when asked by a journalist whether there was any work being done in Turkey to remove HTS from the list of terrorist organizations, said the following:
“It’s not about us, this is international… But everything seems very clear. The names known to be related to this organization are currently seen as the most important actors of the transition process of the administration in Syria, even though no administration has been established yet. They also have social support.” Therefore, these can be updated under new conditions according to the new period.”
