03.08.2026 16:07
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, President Erdogan made a critical announcement regarding the Terror-Free Turkey process. Erdogan said, 'In the coming days, we will present the legal regulation we have been working on to parliament. We will achieve the goals of the Terror-Free Turkey process with the support of our political parties. When the process reaches its target, 86 million will benefit.'
The Cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting at the Presidential Complex lasted about 3 hours.
STATEMENT ON "TERROR-FREE TURKEY" AFTER THE CABINET After the meeting, President Erdogan, who appeared before the cameras, made the long-awaited statement regarding the Terror-Free Turkey process. Erdogan announced the date when the legal regulation would be presented.
The highlights of Erdogan's statements are as follows:
"By disregarding fundamental human rights in the region and trampling international law, Israel is step by step occupying Palestinian territories. Israel's aggressive policies, which it also implements in the West Bank, are the main source of the problems in our region. The entire region is paying the price. Due to the conflicts in the region, the biggest shocks are being experienced in the global oil supply. As Turkey, in the global conjuncture where a new crisis emerges every day, we are successfully managing multiple shocks, thank God. In this process, we do not neglect to support our producers, exporters, and the real sector.
We increased the volume of subsidized credit and provided access to financing under favorable conditions. In this period alone, we activated a support package of 1 trillion. We offered financial support to 724 thousand of our farmers and tradesmen. We halved the tax burden in the tourism sector and are launching a support application for employment in tourism. We continue our supports aimed at preserving employment in sectors such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, leather, and furniture.
"TURKEY HAS THE STRENGTH AND POTENTIAL TO OVERCOME ALL KINDS OF DIFFICULTIES" Let no one have any doubt. We are resolutely taking steps to make Turkey the production, logistics, transit trade, and technology center of its region. As Turkey, we are successfully managing multiple shocks in the global conjuncture where a new crisis emerges every day. Turkey has the strength and potential to overcome all kinds of difficulties. Despite the conflicts in our region, the Turkish economy remains standing tall. We are making special efforts to keep the impact of war-related costs at a minimum level. As long as there is trust in politics and stability in governance, we will overcome every obstacle. Turkey has experienced a lack of trust along with a democracy deficit in the past. It knows very well what this cost. The foremost of the prices it made our country pay is the terrorism issue. Look, I want to share some striking figures here.
TERROR-FREE TURKEY PROCESS The costs of terrorism to the Turkish economy... The loss in employment reaches 2.5 million people. Losses caused by terrorism have also created double-sided pressure on public finances. Our tax loss is approaching 123 billion dollars. Investment, employment, financing... The average annual cost of terrorism exceeds 50 billion dollars. When the Terror-Free Turkey process reaches its goal, our country will be forever freed from this heavy economic bill.
"WE WILL SUBMIT THE LEGAL REGULATION TO THE PARLIAMENT IN THE COMING DAYS" In the coming days, we will submit the legal regulation we are working on to the parliament. We will achieve the goal of the Terror-Free Turkey process with the support of our political parties. When the process reaches its goal, 86 million will benefit.
"TURKEY WILL NOT ABANDON ITS TURKISH CYPRIOT BROTHERS" The issue in Cyprus is the issue of the recognition of sovereign equality and equal international status. Turkey has ended the oppression that Turkish Cypriots were subjected to. No initiative that ignores the sovereign equality, rights, and legitimate interests of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean can possibly succeed.
We are carefully following every step taken by circles that want to turn Cyprus into a part of new military structures and geopolitical calculations. I remind those who miscalculate. Turkey, as it has throughout history, will not leave its Turkish Cypriot brothers alone and will never, at any cost, allow old pains to be experienced again. It will never allow old pains to be experienced again.
Just as we solved the water needs of Turkish Cypriots in the past, we will continue to implement different projects, including the natural gas pipeline under the sea.
FOREST FIRES With nearly 28 thousand forest heroes, over 140 thousand volunteers, 28 firefighting aircraft, 119 helicopters, 14 UAVs, and nearly 6 thousand land vehicles, we are on duty 24/7 these days. Since the beginning of the year, our teams have rapidly responded to a total of 2,873 fires, 1,011 of which were in forests and 1,862 outside forests. Today, so far, 90 fires have broken out across our country, 59 of which are in non-forest areas. 81 of these fires have been completely brought under control. Currently, our efforts to bring the fires in Mugla, Balikesir, Antalya, and Canakkale under control are continuing.
21 aircraft, 58 helicopters, 929 land vehicles, and 3,210 of our personnel are working intensively. We must be very careful in August and September. We are also following the efforts. While responding to our own fires, we are also helping countries in need. I extend my get-well wishes to all countries fighting forest fires, especially Spain and France. As 86 million, let's be careful, let's not light fires in open areas, let's not throw glass or cigarette butts into forests, and let's give up stubble burning. Let's not forget that causing a forest fire has severe penalties. I wish our teams success once again, and I pray that God does not let a stone touch their feet."