Erdogan: 'Terror-Free Turkey' is a state project, and we're in the final stretch
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the process he calls "Terror-Free Turkey" is being run as a state project. He said significant progress had been made over the past two years despite provocations and attempts to derail it.
RastinewsPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke at a ceremony for the placement of families of fallen soldiers, veterans and veterans' relatives in public sector jobs, held at Istanbul's Haliç Congress Center.
Erdogan devoted much of his speech to the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, saying its core goal is to bring a definitive end to nearly half a century of conflict.
"We are running it as a state project"
Erdogan said the process was not a temporary political initiative.
"We are running the Terror-Free Turkey process, which we launched to completely eliminate the scourge of terrorism that has scorched our hearths for half a century, as a state project. Over the past two years, despite every provocation and every trap, we have made significant headway," he said.
Erdogan said Turkey would keep taking the steps needed to live in peace and security, and that attempts to damage the process would not be allowed.
Iran and Gulf crises
Erdogan argued that the process had made a "strategic contribution" to managing wars and crises around Turkey over the past six months, particularly in Iran and the Gulf region.
"Plans to set brother against brother by lighting new fires of discord were foiled thanks to our country's efforts," Erdogan said, adding that the "Terror-Free Turkey" process mattered not only for Turkey's internal security but for regional stability.
Message on Syria
Turning to Syria, Erdogan said "good news" was coming from the country. He said Turkey was pleased that problems in Syria were being resolved without further loss of life, and that Turkish support for the country would continue.
Erdogan claimed that plans to "set brother against brother" in Syria had been blocked thanks to Turkey's initiatives.
"467 votes cleared a critical threshold"
Erdogan noted that legislation drafted as part of the "Terror-Free Turkey" process had passed parliament with 467 votes, calling it an "unprecedented example of consensus" in the assembly.
He described the broadly supported legislation as a "critical threshold" for the process.
"We will cut off the pipelines of those who feed on the terror industry"
Erdogan said the process would be handled with care and that no step that could offend the families of fallen soldiers or veterans would be permitted.
He said circles that had "fed on the terror industry" for roughly 50 years still existed, adding:
"We will take every step necessary, with determination, to ensure terrorism never again finds ground in this land and never inflicts new suffering on us. We will not give those uncomfortable with this process the opening they're hoping for. We will cut off, one by one, the pipelines of those who feed on the terror industry."
Erdogan said he believed the process would be completed successfully. "God willing, we will clear this final stretch too, and bring peace and stability to the whole of our region along with our country," he said.