15.01.2026 14:46
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu made important statements about "energy" at the International Ayder Forum. Emphasizing that the concept of clean energy should also include ethical energy, Memişoğlu stated, "We must not use a system that will destroy, conflict, or exploit people to obtain energy, and we need to teach this to some countries outside of us."
The International Ayder Forum with the agenda of 'Energy, Security, and Diplomacy' has started in Rize.
In the forum where global energy policies, artificial intelligence technologies, and sustainable energy strategies are discussed, the opening speakers included Hakan Gültekin, President of the International Ayder Forum Association, Rahmi Metin, Mayor of Rize, Dr. Ömer İleri, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Head of Information and Communication Technologies, Prof. Dr. Halit Yerebakan, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Head of Health Policies, Hayati Yazıcı, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Head of Political and Legal Affairs, İhsan Selim Baydaş, Governor of Rize, Kemal Memişoğlu, Minister of Health, Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Olgun Amcaoğlu, Minister of Economy and Energy of the TRNC.
"ENERGY IS AN INDISPENSABLE NEED FOR COUNTRIES"
In his speech, Minister Memişoğlu stated, "Energy is a very strategic issue. In fact, since the late 1800s and early 1900s, with the industrial revolution, energy has become an indispensable need for countries. Today, we all talk about energy, we talk about clean energy. But as healthcare professionals and as a civilization, we believe that the side that says 'human first' should also express ethical energy. In other words, we always mention clean energy, but there should also be ethical energy. We should not use a system that will destroy, conflict, or exploit people to obtain energy, and we need to teach this to some civilizations and countries outside of us. That is why this forum is very important," he said.
Minister Memişoğlu continued his remarks as follows:
"Under the leadership of our esteemed President, our country has made significant progress in both ethical and clean energy. I thank our past energy ministers, but I especially want to say that I have witnessed my Minister Alparslan working day and night for our country's energy independence; this country was able to produce a total of 36,000 barrels of oil until a long time ago, but today it has reached the capacity to produce over 80,000 barrels of oil just in Gabar. In renewable energy, it has also become the fifth in Europe and the eleventh in the world.
We are now becoming a country that is self-sufficient in energy in the century of Turkey, carrying ethical values to help others when needed. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed, especially to our esteemed President, on behalf of this nation and humanity.
"I THANK THOSE WHO ORGANIZED SUCH AN INTERNATIONAL FORUM IN MY HOMETOWN"
Such forums where knowledge is shared and strategies are produced are very valuable for everyone. They are also valuable for the state. The state intelligence sustains its life by taking the information and strategies that will emerge from these forums. I thank those who organized such an international forum in my hometown.
I tell my esteemed Minister of Energy, this place is a region with high energy. As the Ministry of Health, we are completing the construction of city hospitals in Samsun, Ordu, and Trabzon. We are also completing our 1053-bed city hospital in Rize, which means this region is in great need of energy. Therefore, I am sure that we will succeed in how to obtain energy from this region under your auspices."
Furthermore, the following topics were discussed at the forum:
- Energy and Artificial Intelligence
- Innovations and Impacts in the Energy Sector
- Energy Competition and the Future of Energy Strategies in the Black Sea-Eurasia Region
- Towards Low/Zero Carbon Buildings: Smart, Cost-Effective, and Environmentally Friendly Energy Solutions
- Private Sector in Energy
- Turkey's Nuclear Future, Strategies, Technologies, and Sustainability