24.03.2026 19:31
President Erdoğan, in a statement following the Cabinet meeting, called for an immediate end to the war between the US-Israel and Iran. Stating that they will keep Turkey out of the war, Erdoğan said, "We are determined to keep our country outside of this circle of fire, we will not fall for provocations. At no point in our history have we fallen into traps or been drawn into games. We will not do so again."
In statements made after the cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan said regarding the US-Israel-Iran war, "We are determined to keep our country outside of this ring of fire, we will not succumb to provocations."
STATEMENTS FROM ERDOĞAN AFTER THE CABINET MEETING The Presidential Cabinet Meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has concluded. The meeting at the Presidential Complex lasted approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. After the meeting, Erdoğan addressed the cameras and made statements.
The main points from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows:
"I congratulate our nation and the entire Islamic world on the past Ramadan Feast. Throughout Ramadan, we tried to live the feelings of sharing and solidarity at the highest level. Despite those who tried to cast a shadow on our joy of Ramadan, we felt the warmth of being a remedy for each other's troubles, being friends and brothers, as 86 million. We gathered at the same table in a very wide spectrum, from our youth to our educators, from security personnel to foundation representatives, from our workers to the families of martyrs.
"WE ARE LIKE FLESH AND NAIL WITH THE NATION" This year, our Ramadan Program held at the Complex, which we organized for the second time, attracted the interest of our people. 592 thousand citizens visited our Complex on this occasion. Our children experienced the joy of Ramadan to the fullest in the area prepared for them, and we observed with pleasure that the Ramadan program, which included over 8,000 events such as conferences, concerts, interviews, and signings, met a significant need in Ankara.
In the Ramadan Program held at the Heart of Education, which is targeted by circles at odds with the nation and its values, we similarly contributed to the different atmosphere of Ramadan being experienced in our schools. No matter what anyone says, we are like flesh and nail with the nation. We are brothers from 86 million from the past to eternity. We will continue to be one heart, one wrist. My request from God is to bring us to those happy days when the sounds of weapons are not heard in our region, when there are no bomb and missile noises, and when Feasts are celebrated like Feasts.
The sad news we received from Qatar has unfortunately broken all our hearts. As a result of a helicopter crash that was conducting educational activities in Qatar, 7 personnel, 4 of whom were Qatari, became martyrs. I pray for God's mercy on our martyrs. I share the pain of our Qatari brothers and extend my condolences to the families and relatives of our martyrs.
"WITH THE PROCESS OF A TERROR-FREE TURKEY, INCIDENTS DECREASED ON NEVROUZ" The second day of the Feast coincided with Nevruz day. Nevruz is celebrated in a festive atmosphere by brotherly peoples in many places. Although unpleasant incidents that do not suit the spirit of Nevruz have occurred in previous years, we see that these incidents have seriously decreased in the last two years due to the effect of a Terror-Free Turkey. We are taking the necessary actions against the lowlifes who play with the nerves of our nation by using Nevruz as an excuse, as seen in Istanbul and Diyarbakır. We will not allow any provocation that casts a shadow on the values represented by Nevruz.
"NO ONE WILL HAVE THE POWER TO TURN BACK THE PATH OF A TERROR-FREE TURKEY" These kinds of provocations aimed at undermining the process of a Terror-Free Turkey, which is now better understood in terms of its strategic value, will receive the necessary response from us. Neither provocateurs nor the godfathers holding their strings will have the power to turn us back from this blessed path. Despite various obstacles in front of us, we will carry the process we have conducted with common sense for 17 months to its destination.
Our road may be uphill, but the path and horizon of our country are clear, and the tomorrows are bright. If the process of a Terror-Free Turkey is disrupting a bloody game that has lasted for half a century, our ideal of a Terror-Free Region is also blocking the plans of those who want to sow discord among Kurds, Turks, Arabs, and Persians. We first saw this in the developments in northern Syria, and most recently in the dirty plan aimed at Iran. Even these two developments are sufficient to understand the vision and strategic value we put forward 1.5 years ago.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE LANGUAGE OF BROTHERHOOD" As our brotherhood strengthens and the era of weapons and violence comes to an end, the winners will be our country, our nation, and our brotherly peoples. Let there be no doubt about this. We have lived together in this geography for a thousand years. Our sorrows and joys have become one; today our hearts beat together, and our tears flow together. We will continue to elevate the universal language of brotherhood in our region. I wish that the Nevruz, which we spent under the shadow of wars, brings peace, tranquility, and abundance to our people and the peoples of the region.
I hope that this meaningful day strengthens the bonds of affection among us. As a cabinet, we continued our work throughout Ramadan and the Feast. We have left behind two weeks that were intense in terms of meeting with our people and external contacts. On March 12, we hosted the UN Secretary-General at our Complex and presented the Atatürk International Peace Prize.
"WE HAVE NEVER FALLEN INTO A TRAP AT ANY TIME IN OUR HISTORY" We have never fallen into a trap at any time in our history. Today, we are not falling into the traps that some want to pull us into. We are managing this process in a cautious, prudent, and calm manner, respecting the law of brotherhood and neighborliness. We are determined to keep our country outside of this ring of fire. As the economic bill continues to rise day by day, calls for an immediate end to the war have increased.
"THE WAR IS ISRAEL'S WAR BUT THE WORLD PAYS THE PRICE" The war is Israel's war but the world pays the price. The massacre network led by Netanyahu must be stopped immediately in the name of regional peace. Every country should adopt a brave and proactive stance on this issue. This meaningless and unlawful war must end before more destruction occurs, before more blood is shed, and before irreversible damage is done to the global economy; the door to dialogue must be opened, and a result-oriented negotiation process must be initiated swiftly.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE" Israel's uncompromising, radical attitude should not be allowed to sabotage diplomatic solutions. No country that values world peace and stability should henceforth feed the fire that Israel unjustly ignites in our region. Turkey will continue to work with all its strength for the establishment of peace, justice, and stability.