03.03.2026 20:53
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at an iftar with members of parliament in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Stating that Turkey is not neutral on regional and global issues, Erdoğan said, "We are never neutral on matters concerning our region and humanity." Erdoğan added, "As Turkey, we are on the side of peace and tranquility. We are on the side of harmony and cooperation."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who met with members of parliament for iftar at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, gave important messages regarding the military mobilization that began with the attacks of the USA and Israel on Iran, and Iran's response.
TURKEY'S POSITION IS CLEAR
Erdoğan stated, "In such a sensitive conjuncture where uncertainty, tension, conflict, and lawlessness have become the norm, Turkey's position is clear. We are never neutral on issues that concern our region and humanity."
Highlights from President Erdoğan's speech are as follows:
I pray for the mercy of Almighty God for the members of parliament who have rightfully upheld the trust of the nation in our Gazi Assembly, but are no longer with us. I salute once again the 'either independence or death' cause embodied in the lines of our Independence War Commander Gazi Mustafa Kemal, 'this homeland will not die, it is impossible for it to die, even if it dies, the weight of this coffin will crush the globe.' This homeland does not die; it is impossible for it to die. Even if it were impossible, the whole world would collapse under this weight. The phrase 'Turkey is greater than Turkey' is not an ordinary saying.
This expression is the identification and certification of the belief, will, and love of a nation that is aware of its own existence. As the representatives of the true and noble nation, you represent that belief, that love, and that will today. On behalf of myself, my country, and my nation, I thank each of you individually. As members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, for our independence, our republic, and the honorable life we live as a nation, you also know that the whole world is going through critical periods. We are all experiencing a shift in axis where international institutions and organizations are becoming ineffective, the balance of power is increasingly deteriorating, international agreements have turned into patchwork, and the traditional understanding of diplomacy has been abandoned.
"GLOBAL INJUSTICE IS DEEPENING FURTHER"
The world system established after World War II is literally cracking and shaking to its foundations. The world is heating up, being heated. Global injustice is deepening and becoming chronic. While the old order is collapsing, it is not clear what will replace it. The world is being dragged into a chaotic period where the law of brute force and the powerful is being enforced. We are witnessing the process that began with attacks on our neighbor Iran. The principles symbolized by the UN system, such as sovereign equality and the resolution of disputes through diplomacy, have been turned into idols that are devoured by their own creators.
"TURKEY'S POSITION IS CLEAR"
Those who have been talking to us about law, human rights, and freedoms for years are themselves disregarding these values. They see no harm in violating them. In such a sensitive conjuncture where uncertainty, tension, conflict, and lawlessness have become the norm, Turkey's position is clear. We are never neutral on issues that concern our region and humanity. We are not neutral in events that disturb the peace of our brothers and neighbors. We are not neutral on issues that threaten the future of the entire world. As Turkey, we are on the side of peace and tranquility. We are on the side of harmony and cooperation. We are on the side of universal values, justice, and development.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST INJUSTICES"
We are on the side of resolving problems through dialogue and diplomacy. We are on the side of peace instead of war. We are on the side of rights, truth, and preserving human life, not of killing, massacres, bandits, or genociders. We are on the side of alleviating the tears of the oppressed and preventing oppression. We will always maintain this line and stance. Just as we have come to these days by disrupting games, we will continue to stand firm against injustices, as we have raised our voices for rights while those who teach us about human and democratic rights remained silent, and we did not bow to the oppressors.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESILIENT"
We will continue to think wisely, remain calm, and act with common sense. While missiles are flying in our immediate vicinity, we will continue to be careful, cautious, patient, but equally resilient against bandits, ensuring that not a single hair on the head of any of the 86 million citizens is harmed. In these stormy waters the world is navigating today, we are preparing for the Century of Turkey by strengthening our infrastructure, economy, diplomacy, military, and defense industry, and fortifying our national unity. One of the cornerstones of our vision for the Century of Turkey is the work we carry out with the goals of a terror-free Turkey and a terror-free region.
THE COMMISSION SUCCESSFULLY FULFILLED ITS HISTORICAL MISSION
Since April 23, 1920, our Assembly has demonstrated its skill in writing national prescriptions for national ailments on various occasions. This Gazi Assembly has the capacity and democratic maturity to produce solutions to every problem that pains the country and the nation, and thank God, it possesses this abundantly today. The National Solidarity Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, established on August 5, has successfully fulfilled its historical mission. The Commission has accepted its final report, demonstrated its faith in the process, and has taken on a pioneering role on the road to a terror-free Turkey. I sincerely thank all the members of parliament who served in the commission, especially our Assembly President Mr. Kurtulmuş.
"WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENT, DECISIVE, AND BRAVE STEPS"
I thank my friends who successfully represented our party and alliance in the commission. I believe that in the coming days they will show the necessary self-confidence and courage to free our country from this problem. There will be those who want to turn Turkey back from this path. We will not pay attention to them. We will move forward with confident, decisive, and brave steps. We will not waste this opportunity, nor will we allow it to be wasted. As the AK Party and the People's Alliance, we will act with the positive contributions and sense of responsibility of our other political parties. We will, God willing, save Turkey from this calamity that has been a burden on our nation for half a century, which has cost the lives of tens of thousands of our citizens, and which has an economic cost exceeding 2 trillion dollars.
We will achieve this in a legitimate and reasonable manner, within the framework of brotherhood and citizenship law, without disturbing the souls of our martyrs, and without upsetting our veterans and the families of martyrs. I want to emphasize that we expect this same sensitivity from every member of parliament under this roof and from all political parties. God willing, when Turkey permanently leaves this issue behind, it will run towards bright tomorrows, freed from its heavy burdens.