"We Will Achieve Our Goal of a Turkey Without Terror and Prove That the Sacrifices of Our Martyrs and Veterans Have Not Been in Vain"
"We Will Achieve Our Goal of a Turkey Without Terror and Prove That the Sacrifices of Our Martyrs and Veterans Have Not Been in Vain"
Following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdoğan stated:
"We will certainly achieve our goal of a Turkey without terror and show that the sacrifices of our heroic martyrs and veterans have not been in vain. Last week, another meaningful step was taken on this path: the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission, established with the participation of opposition parties, was extremely valuable in terms of our Parliament, the manifestation of national will, embracing and supporting this process."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the press after the Presidential Cabinet Meeting held at the Presidential Complex.
Commenting on the topics discussed at the meeting, President Erdoğan said:
"First of all, I would like to extend my condolences to all our citizens affected by the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred yesterday evening in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir. I pray for mercy on one citizen who passed away after being pulled from the rubble and wish a speedy recovery to six brothers and sisters undergoing treatment in hospitals.
As soon as we received news of the earthquake, we immediately dispatched our Ministers of Interior and Health to the district, put all members of our Cabinet on alert, and closely monitored the ongoing operations. Search and rescue efforts have been completed, and damage assessments are ongoing. Our ministers have transparently shared relevant information with the public. All institutions of our state stand by our citizens affected by the earthquake."
"WE MUST CARRY OUT THE URBAN TRANSFORMATION EFFORT WITH A SPIRIT OF MOBILIZATION"
"Every earthquake and tremor reminds us once again of the importance of preparedness. Our government’s efforts to renew our building stock, especially through urban transformation, are well known. However, as we have always said, this is not a burden the central administration can handle alone. It is essential to carry out this struggle with a spirit of mobilization, hand in hand with the government, the opposition, local administrations, and, of course, the residents themselves. A consensus must now be formed, ideological prejudices must be set aside, and no one should avoid taking responsibility. We are open to any cooperation to achieve this. May God protect our country and nation from all disasters."
"Today marks the eighth anniversary of the martyrdom of our child Eren Bülbül, who was only 15 years old, and Gendarmerie Non-Commissioned Officer Ferhat Gedik. I once again commemorate these two heroes who fell for their homeland and flag; may their souls rest in peace, and their places be in paradise.
We will continue to protect the sacred legacies for which our martyrs sacrificed their lives. We will certainly achieve our goal of a Turkey without terror and demonstrate that the sacrifices of our heroic martyrs and veterans have not been in vain. Last week, another meaningful step was taken on this path. The National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission, established with the participation of opposition parties, was extremely valuable in terms of our Parliament, the manifestation of national will, embracing and supporting this process. We are pleased that this sense of ownership has been realized. The unanimous decisions taken in the first two meetings of the Commission were another promising development. We hope this constructive approach will continue."
"From the very beginning, our stance on this issue has been clear: it is the duty of the political institution to demonstrate a national stance on national matters. Turkey is the common homeland of all of us; this state belongs to every one of the 86 million citizens, whether Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, Alevi, or Sunni. These lands, where a martyr rests in every corner, are our eternal homeland. Even if our political views, lifestyles, origins, or ideas differ, we are all the rightful owners of the Republic of Turkey, members of the same household. Neither our differences, nor political competition, nor daily debates should stand in the way of this; none of us should allow it. In resolving an issue that concerns the survival, security, peace, and future of 86 million people, the contribution, support, and guiding criticism of everyone responsible is particularly important."
"THE HOPES OF THE NATION MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED FOR DAILY POLITICAL GAINS"
"It is extremely important to make wise choices during the Commission’s work and avoid statements that could infect the process. We hope that the emerging hopes of our nation will not be sacrificed for the daily calculations of political gain. A window of opportunity has opened for Turkey to be permanently free from terror, and failing to seize it would carry a heavy responsibility. I believe the Commission will fulfill its duties properly to ensure the success of efforts for a Turkey without terror in line with the expectations of our nation. Both the People’s Alliance and the government fully support the work of the Commission."
"Last Friday, our Ministers of National Defense and Interior, along with the President of the National Intelligence Organization, gave comprehensive presentations to the Commission, informed its members, and answered questions candidly. Together, we want to stop the flowing blood, ease the pain and tears, and fulfill our responsibility to our nation properly."
"I hope the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission will once again serve as a source of good. Yesterday, as President, we successfully completed our 11th year of service to our nation, thanks to God. On this occasion, I thank my beloved nation, who has never withheld their prayers, support, and loyalty from the moment I first stepped into the political arena. I also express my gratitude to every brother and sister who has helped us adorn every square meter of Turkey with achievements."
We aim to serve both our people and God with the peace of mind that comes from fulfilling our duty. Guided by the saying, “A day in which nothing is accomplished is a lost day,” we work tirelessly, day and night. When a citizen, anywhere in our country, benefits from our services and sincerely prays, “May God be pleased with you,” it is our greatest honor and happiness. To earn the trust and prayers of our nation, we engage in a multi-layered effort both at home and abroad.
With this understanding, since our last Cabinet Meeting, we have worked relentlessly. On July 29, we hosted President Tokayev of Kazakhstan and his delegation in Ankara for the 5th Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. During the visit, we signed a total of 20 agreements across different sectors. We remain committed to achieving our trade target of 15 billion dollars. I once again send my regards to my valued brother President Tokayev and express my pleasure in hosting him.
Over the past 20 years, our Africa initiative and Turkey-Africa partnership policies have borne fruit across various fields. For instance, while we had 12 embassies on the continent in 2002, that number has now risen to 44. The number of African embassies in Ankara has reached 38. Our trade volume with Africa increased ninefold from 4.3 billion dollars in 2002 to 36.6 billion dollars by the end of 2024. Turkish contractors undertook projects worth a total of 97 billion dollars in Africa, covering 2031 projects. Our investments on the continent rose from 67 million dollars to 10 billion dollars. As a country without a colonial past, we have demonstrated to the world that a win-win cooperation model is possible. Despite the internalized colonial mindset in some minds, we have achieved all this. Now, we are elevating these achievements through reciprocal visits.
The visits of Gabonese President Nguema on July 31 and Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on August 7 confirmed that our African brothers share the same commitment. We signed a total of 12 agreements: eight with Gabon and four with Senegal. On August 1, we hosted Italian Prime Minister Meloni and Libyan Prime Minister Dibeybe in Istanbul. At our trilateral cooperation summit, we addressed issues concerning all three countries. Over the weekend, I held a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss Israel’s new plans to occupy Gaza. I conveyed Turkey’s firm stance on this issue to President Abbas. We will not allow Netanyahu and his massacre network to prolong their political survival at the cost of plunging our region into greater disasters.
As Chair of the Council, we called an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Foreign Ministers to stop the atrocities in Gaza and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian aid reaches our starving brothers and sisters. We have mobilized all the capabilities of our state and diplomatic resources to bring hope to Gaza.
“TURKEY PROVIDES THE CLEAREST RESPONSE TO ISRAEL’S BRUTALITY AND OPPRESSION”
I want my beloved nation to know this: Turkey is the country that has given the clearest response to the brutality, slaughter, torture, and oppression of the terrorist state Israel against our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Our civil society organizations, foundations, and associations, together with our people, never leave the people of Gaza alone. We witnessed this firsthand at the Turkey Youth Foundation Summer School Finale Program, attended by 50,000 young friends. The young people, whose eyes shine with hope, love, and faith, both inspired us and transported us to different worlds. With their conscience, morality, vision, confidence, and achievements, our youth is coming forth like a roaring flood. I extend my gratitude to the young participants at TÜGVA and the tens of thousands who marched from Beyazit to Hagia Sophia for the Gazan Muslims with pure hearts. May God grant us to see the beautiful days when Gaza enjoys peace, security, and freedom.
On Saturday, I also held a phone conversation with my brother President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Following the liberation of Karabakh after 30 years of occupation, a new era has already begun in our region. The agreement reached in Washington on August 8 marked a historic step toward establishing lasting peace in the South Caucasus. I welcomed to President Aliyev the news that restrictions on Azerbaijan will now be lifted. I emphasized that Turkey will always stand by Azerbaijan. Today, we discussed the same matter with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan. The restoration of road and rail connections, opening of border gates, and free flow of trade with the establishment of peace in the region will benefit all countries in the area. Tomorrow, we will host Georgian President Kavelaşvili in Ankara. From the Balkans to the Caucasus, from Africa to Central Asia, we will continue our efforts to ensure peace and stability across this region.
We successfully held the 2025 meeting of our Supreme Military Council, critical for our Turkish Armed Forces, on Tuesday, August 5. I congratulate the officers promoted, extended in duty, or assigned to new posts by the Council’s decisions and thank the officers retired for their service to our state.
This year, at the 38th Ordinary General Assembly of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), celebrating its 40th anniversary, we met with our business community. We also hosted archaeologists at the Presidential Complex during the International Archaeology Symposium and the “Golden Age of Archaeology” Exhibition. The Marcus Aurelius Bronze Statue, which was taken from our country 65 years ago and returned after extensive efforts, began to be displayed in the exhibition. I invite our youth and all citizens interested in archaeology to visit our exhibitions at the National Library.
“WE ARE PROGRESSING CONFIDENTLY TOWARD OUR $64 BILLION TOURISM TARGET”
We also received encouraging news in tourism. In the first six months of 2025, we broke the record for all-time revenue with 25.8 billion dollars, a 7.6% increase compared to the same period last year. In the first half of this year, we hosted 26,389,000 visitors in our country. Foreign tourist spending per night increased by 10% to $121. We are steadily progressing toward our 64 billion dollar tourism target for 2025.
I am also pleased to note that inflation has been falling continuously for 14 months. In July, both annual inflation and food inflation reached the lowest levels in the past 44 months. Inflation on essential goods fell to 20.7%. Even in rents, which have fueled inflation persistence, declines have begun. However, it is still not at the desired level. As work in the earthquake region continues, our projects to increase housing supply will accelerate further. Our industrial production is also, thanks to God, performing well.
“OUR CENTRAL BANK RESERVES HAVE RISEN TO 169 BILLION DOLLARS”
We listened to the real sector and revised the SME definition. Now, more businesses can benefit from SME support. Our Central Bank reserves have also been rising rapidly since May. Despite all the attempts of the main opposition to undermine the Turkish economy, our gross reserves have reached 169 billion dollars. Likewise, despite the provocations of the opposition, negotiations with public sector workers concluded with consensus. I hope the protocol, which contains significant improvements, will once again be beneficial for our public workers and for labor relations in general.
Even looking at the key points I summarized here is enough to understand how much attention Turkey’s real agenda demands. Positioned at the center of three continents, Turkey is engaged in a fierce struggle that will shape the next century on multiple fronts. We call this effort the construction of the Turkey Century.
Once again, let me say this clearly: with God’s permission, no one can stop Turkey’s rise. We will never allow our country to be sidelined through various schemes.
However, I must also sadly state this bitter truth: in this difficult journey, our challenges are not only external. We are also confronting their internal extensions and subcontractors. Since the AK Party came to power in 2002, those whose privileges were cut off, who lost their special rights, and who were equalized with the public after years of undue advantage, have attacked our government, the state, and our national institutions in a frenzy, driven by the desire for revenge.
As I have stated before, no one—including myself—is infallible. No one is beyond criticism. We have never shut our ears to constructive criticism; on the contrary, we have considered it carefully and acted on suggestions that benefit our country and nation without any complex. But we have never accepted fifth-column activities inside our country under the guise of criticism.
Our unchanging principle is this: we are as clear as water and humble as the earth toward our nation. Yet, we also consider it better to confront those who aim at the state’s reputation and the nation’s gains than to leave them unchecked. Throughout our political life, we have acted with this sensitivity, and we will continue to maintain our line and stance.
Recent debates have once again confirmed that Turkey’s biggest problem remains an opposition that turns political competition into a destructive campaign, sees discrediting the government as legitimate, and seeks to undermine state institutions. As you know, first they carried out a smear campaign against Imam Hatip schools based on LGS results. They twisted a congratulatory message on the wall of one of our schools in Bursa to cast doubt on the exam. They played with the hopes, dreams, and pure feelings of hundreds of thousands of young people. When their claims were proven false, instead of acting honorably and apologizing, they quietly withdrew as if nothing had happened.
Later, to cover up a bribery scandal in Manavgat, they spread a conspiracy allegation against our police and judiciary. We told them: if there is a conspiracy, go to court with the 32-hour video you have. They immediately went into reverse again. I want to draw your attention: in this campaign of wear and tear, the target was not only our government but also our children, our youth, our state, and the services that make life easier for our citizens.
Now, we see the same chorus crowding around a legal investigation file. Press ethics, journalistic principles, political responsibility, human dignity, the reputation of state institutions, Turkey’s gains—none of these matter to them. They have taken a brush of slander and are blackening everyone in front of them. Yet the clear reality is this: the crime in question was detected, reported, and brought to justice by our state institutions a year ago. Judicial proceedings have been initiated against 220 suspects, and public cases have been filed against 199. In two waves of operations, 37 people were arrested and 150 placed under judicial control. Just as in the Istanbul-centered corruption and fraud investigation, our state has not spared those who embezzled the nation’s rights; it delivered them all to justice.
“WHOEVER INTERFERES WITH THE NATION’S RIGHTS OR SEIZES ITS PROPERTY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE”
I state clearly: just as the positions and titles of those apprehended in Istanbul after 30 years were irrelevant, no one’s standing was considered in this case either. More importantly, no one took to the streets to exonerate the members of the criminal organization, no protests were held, no calls were made to boycott national brands, and no complaints were lodged to Western media. Above all, no one attempted to intimidate or pressure the courts. Everything has been conducted according to law, order, and the principles of a state governed by law.
I want everyone—especially the rude, loud, and brazen individuals who, through their provocateurs, attack state institutions—to know this: no matter what you do, you cannot dilute Turkey’s fight against bribers, criminal organizations, and political usurers who prey on the nation’s property. Stop using our youth and innocent children to exonerate yourselves and your accomplices. Be honest, be principled, and act with at least a minimum sense of responsibility toward the state whose bread you eat. I repeat: whoever interferes with the nation’s rights, property, or assets, we will continue to hold accountable.
Remember: Turkey is a state governed by law, and our legislation clearly defines the punishments for theft, corruption, malpractice, and fraud. No matter who they are, violators will face the necessary penalties. Within the authority and responsibilities granted by our constitution, we will pursue this matter to the very end.
“ONLINE BETTING, GAMBLING, AND ADDICTION HAVE REACHED ALARMING LEVELS”
With increasing digitalization, new threats and dangers emerge every day. Chief among these is the addition of new forms of addiction. After screen addiction and cyberbullying, online betting, gambling, and gaming addiction have recently reached alarming levels. Unfortunately, easy access and the difficulty of regulating the internet have contributed to the spread of this affliction.
According to the latest data from our Green Crescent (Yeşilay), online gambling and betting addiction has surpassed other forms of addiction. We also see criminal organizations profiting significantly from this. As a government, we are determined to tackle this issue, which extinguishes livelihoods, tears families apart, and weakens the national fabric from within.
On the security side, our police and intelligence units, as well as the judiciary and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), are working meticulously. Regarding social and health aspects, a comprehensive action plan is being prepared under the leadership of our Vice President. We are addressing this problem in a multifaceted manner without leaving any gaps.
Before more lives are harmed, the state, civil society, and politics must work hand in hand to stop this scourge. Our hope is that those who oppose every step we take against digital crime under the pretext of freedom will, at the very least, not repeat the same mistake when it comes to combating illegal online gambling and betting. Otherwise, God forbid, society as a whole will bear the consequences.