19.01.2026 19:13
After the cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan spoke about the agreement reached between the Syrian government and the YPG terrorist organization. Erdoğan stated, "Apart from a handful of subcontractors who want to establish a state within a state, the Syrian people are very pleased with the agreement. The requirements of the agreement should be fulfilled as soon as possible; there is no point in playing for time."
The Cabinet convened under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The meeting at the Presidential Complex lasted approximately 2.5 hours. The agenda included the Terror-Free Turkey process, developments in Iran and Syria, the Gaza Peace Plan, as well as developments in domestic politics and the economy. After the meeting, President Erdoğan addressed the cameras with statements.
Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows:
"WE HAVE NOT DISGRACED 86 MILLION"
"I pray that our meeting, where we evaluated the issues on our country's and region's agenda from foreign policy to trade, from the economy to security, will be a blessing. As a team carrying the trust of 86 million, what is important for us is that our esteemed nation looks to Turkey's peace, prosperity, and future with confidence and hope. We have always worked with this understanding. We have worked tirelessly day and night to be worthy of our nation's favor. We have not disgraced 86 million. We have always placed Turkey's interests at the top of our agenda. We defended these issues to the end, taking all risks. Unlike those who never cease to speak of transparency, we are a team that has adopted accountability to the nation as our principle. We recently shared a summary of our service record for the year 2025 with the public. In these days when our children are experiencing the excitement of their mid-term report cards, we have also presented our report card from last year to the appreciation of our esteemed nation.
"WE EMBRACE EVERYONE WITH THE SAME AFFECTION"
We have mobilized all our resources to invigorate Turkey in every field, to elevate it, and to bring it one step closer to its noble goals. We are determined to revive every corner of the homeland and to deliver the opportunities of this country fairly to every individual. I want my citizens, whether they voted for us or not, to know this very well. Every brother living in our 81 provinces is worthy of the same respect in our eyes. We have never separated our people based on their voting preferences. We embrace every one of our citizens with the same affection.
"WE CANNOT LEAVE THE CAPITAL OF TURKEY TO THE MENTALITY OF THOSE WHO CONDEMN OUR CITIZENS TO WEEKS OF THIRST"
We always speak through our works. Today, we experienced the pride of bringing an investment symbolizing the new Turkey to our capital, Ankara. I wish the newly opened 3rd runway and tower of Esenboğa Airport to be auspicious. We cannot leave the capital of Turkey to the mentality of those who condemn our citizens to weeks of thirst. Those who blame everyone except themselves and threaten the press cannot break our enthusiasm for service. When it comes to polarization in this country, crisis opportunism, disaster mongering, and incompetence, everyone knows who comes to mind. It is quite clear whose service record is filled with excellence and whose record is weak and stained.
"LET OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN US AND TRUST US"
Especially the scandals that erupted at the local government level reveal how accurate the choices of our nation were in the last general elections. In the elections held on May 14-28, our nation turned back from the edge of a deep abyss at the last moment, and Turkey has overcome a great crisis. Our nation has once again shown what the Anatolian wisdom, which some misunderstood, means by trusting our government and alliance. Along with the approximately 28 million brothers who cast their votes in our favor, our citizens who expressed their will differently at the ballot box are grateful for our presence at the helm of Turkey, feeling safe when looking at the crises surrounding our geography. I thank all 86 million. Let our people continue to believe in us and trust us. Inshallah, we will never betray this trust. We will not engage in the artificial and virtual debates they want to draw us into, and we will use our time to grow the bread of 86 million, to produce services and works.
"THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN INJURED"
In today's cabinet meeting, we thoroughly discussed external political developments. We discussed additional measures for Turkey to navigate this stormy period without accidents or disasters. As existing problems grow, new ones are added every day. The rule-based international system has suffered severe injuries and has also experienced a significant loss of reputation. We are rapidly being dragged towards an unjust and distorted global order where the law of the powerful prevails instead of the power of the law.
"WE HAVE FOLLOWED A PRINCIPLED ATTITUDE"
In the Russia-Ukraine war, hundreds of thousands of people have died on both sides. Many have been forced to leave their homeland. Unfortunately, a roadmap that will increase hopes for peace has not yet been established. Our neighbor Iran is now facing a new challenge targeting its social peace and stability after the Israeli attacks. We believe that our Iranian brothers will leave behind this period filled with traps through a delicate policy that prioritizes dialogue and diplomacy. With our foreign policy centered on peace and stability, we will oppose any initiative that risks dragging our region into uncertainty. In our view, the solution address for every problem is a negotiation table based on mutual trust. I want all relevant parties to be invited to common sense, dialogue, and diplomacy, and to know that we are ready to do whatever is necessary to reduce tensions.
"WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY INITIATIVE THAT WILL SABOTAGE THIS AS A COUNTRY THAT IS A BROTHER, NEIGHBOR, AND FRIEND TO THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA"
We are closely following every development in Syria, where we share a common history and culture. We are making intense efforts to transform the freedom environment that Syria gained with the December 8 revolution into lasting peace and tranquility. We believe that Syria is indispensable for us, united and together. Syria belongs to the Syrians. Syria belongs to everyone, regardless of Arab, Turkmen, Kurdish, Nusayri, Sunni, or Druze. It belongs to the brotherly Syrian people in all its segments. After the oppression that cost the lives of hundreds of thousands, Syria has seized a historic opportunity. The future, horizon, and fortune of our Syrian brothers are bright. As a country that is a brother, neighbor, and friend to the people of Syria, we will not allow any initiative that will sabotage this. The principle of a single state and a single army is an indispensable condition for stability in a country. Turkey fully supports every step that will reinforce this.
"THE FERTILE LANDS OF SYRIA HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH PAIN, BLOOD, AND TEARS"
The operation launched to liberate some neighborhoods of Aleppo from occupation concluded yesterday with a ceasefire and full integration agreement. It is commendable that the Syrian army managed this sensitive operation carefully, acting with surgical precision to prevent civilian casualties during the operation. Despite the provocations of armed elements holding northern Syria under occupation, the Syrian army has passed this test successfully. It has avoided actions that would put it in an unjust position while being right. The Syrian government has resolved the issue with minimal damage.
We believe that all of these are very valuable gains. Last night, I had a phone conversation with my brother, President Ahmet Şara. I congratulated him for the agreement and the operation. I once again expressed that Turkey will always stand by them in their fight against terrorism, especially against ISIS. I hope that we will not leave the Syrian people alone, as we did yesterday, tomorrow as well. It seems that, apart from a handful of subcontractors chasing after establishing a state within a state, the Syrian people are very happy with yesterday's agreement. The photos reflecting the streets of Aleppo, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and other cities show the longing for peace. The people who have suffered greatly for 13.5 years are regaining hope, embracing life again, and clearly stating that they no longer want war. No one has the right to ignore this, especially to undermine this climate of hope. The fertile lands of Syria have had enough of pain, blood, and tears.
"THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CEASEFIRE AND FULL INTEGRATION AGREEMENT MUST BE FULFILLED PROMPTLY"
Playing for time by hiding behind various excuses and resisting will not benefit anyone. The era of terrorism in our region has completely ended. The requirements of the ceasefire and full integration agreement must be fulfilled promptly. We are a government that walks with humanitarian sensitivities, not with calculations of interests. In every step we have taken so far, we have embraced our values and upheld our principles. We have opened our arms and the doors of our hearts wide to all peoples. Racism and tribalism are diseases rejected by our ancient culture, our civilization, and our values of faith.
"TURKEY IS NOT AGAINST ANY SECT OR ETHNIC IDENTITY"
None of these exist in our book. All the states we have established are built on the rejection of racism. The Seljuk, Ottoman, and the Republic of Turkey have taken shape around this conception and vision. We act with this understanding while referring to Turks, Kurds, and Arabs. Turkey is not against any sect or ethnic identity. It is not involved in the cheap and heartless calculation of gaining power and profit through conflicts. We are now a country that advocates for resolving issues with common sense on the basis of brotherhood.
"WHY ARE WE DIVIDING WHEN THERE IS UNITY AMONG DIVERSITY IN THESE LANDS?"
We sadly see that some politicians, some writers, and some members of parliament have caught the virus of racism. Which person with a conscience can defend the forced separation of children taken from their families and sent to death? Who can see the occupation of cities and the suffering of civilians as reasonable? Why does the safety and joy of Aleppo, with all its neighborhoods, disturb some? Those children, who are handed weapons larger than themselves and dressed in suicide vests, are the future of both our Kurdish brothers and Syria, aren't they? How many more children need to die for it to be understood that nothing can be achieved through terrorism and violence? Is the blood of the Arab not sacred to the Kurd, and the blood of the Kurd not sacred to the Turk and the Turkmen? The Kurd and the Arab are our brothers. The Turkmen, Sunni, Shia, and Alevi are our souls, our hearts, our dear brothers, aren't they? Why this hatred, anger, greed, resentment, and ambition when we can solve our issues? While the Republic of Turkey is here, standing tall thanks to God, why are we looking for other patrons, friends, comrades, and partners, and why are we seeking help from those who have Muslim blood on their hands? Why are we dividing when there is unity among diversity in these lands?
"WE HAVE NO OTHER FRIENDS, COMRADES, OR REFUGE TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF EXCEPT FOR EACH OTHER AS TURKS, KURDS, AND ARABS"
I call on those who view events through the lens of racism and tribalism instead of the window of conscience to turn back from this mistake. We are the peaceful and rightful owners of this geography for a thousand years. We have no other friends, comrades, or refuge to knock on the door of except for each other as Turks, Kurds, and Arabs. Whenever we treated each other with brotherhood and friendship in this region, we grew, strengthened, and became an impregnable fortress. Whenever we fell apart as Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Shia, and Sunni, we weakened and lost. We suffered.
"WE DO NOT WANT OUR UNDERGROUND AND ABOVEGROUND WEALTH TO FLOW INTO THE POCKETS OF WAR BARONS"
We do not want to see war, conflict, or tension in any corner of our geography, especially in Syria. We do not want our underground and aboveground wealth to flow into the pockets of war barons. We do not want the materialistic mentality that values a drop of oil more than the flowing human blood to thrive while our brothers struggle with hunger, famine, and poverty. We want to win together. We want to live side by side in a region where peace and stability prevail, in harmony.
Details are coming.
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