President Erdoğan: Turkey is the key country in the region.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements at the AK Party Erzurum 8th Ordinary Provincial Congress. Highlighting the crises in the Middle East, Erdoğan expressed that Turkey is also affected.

Stating that Turkey is appreciated as an island of stability amidst the chaos in the region, Erdoğan said, "Our country stands out as the key country of the region." Emphasizing that they did not allow the fire around the borders to spread to the country, President Erdoğan stated, "We have successfully managed all these risky processes and continue to do so."

Highlights from Erdoğan's speech are as follows:

"KEY COUNTRY TURKEY"

"Our world and our region are experiencing truly painful days recently. The global system is facing one of the most serious crises of the last 80 years. The coronavirus pandemic has brought new troubles in every field. Very critical events are occurring around Turkey. The Russia-Ukraine war will enter its 4th year. The Israeli massacres in Gaza have lasted for 440 days. 50,000 of our Palestinian brothers have been martyred. Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to harass Lebanon. Our country is also affected by these wars and crises. Turkey is appreciated as an island of stability amidst this chaos. It stands out as the key country of the region. We have never allowed the fire around us to spread to our country. We have successfully managed all these risky processes and continue to do so.

"THE BAATH REGIME HAS FADED INTO HISTORY"

A segment in our country, led by the opposition, is constantly instilling pessimism in the nation by exaggerating problems. Instead of looking in the same direction as the nation, they turn their direction wherever the wind blows like a weather vane. Nothing will come of them. They are in such a state of mind that they cannot tolerate the nation's victory. Ignorance is flowing from their sleeves. They don't even care about what is happening beyond our borders. A popular revolution has literally taken place in Syria. After 61 years of oppression, the Baath regime has now completely faded into history. Assad, who caused the death of 1 million innocents in his country, had to flee from Damascus overnight with his tail between his legs. The Syrian people achieved a magnificent victory as a result of a 13-year struggle. After years, people's faces are smiling in the streets of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Latakia, and Damascus. For the first time in 13 years, our Syrian brothers are looking to the future with hope.

"THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING POLITICS BY RAMBLING"

Our star and crescent flag stands side by side with the free Syrian flags. The oppressed Syrians say, 'May Allah be pleased with Turkey and the Turkish nation.' Some cannot tolerate this. They produce absurd conspiracy theories to overshadow the victory of our Syrian brothers. They think they are doing politics by listing a series of nonsense, claiming that there are imperialists behind the Syrian people, and that the fall of the Baath regime would harm Turkey's interests. They are so deep in the pit of ignorance that they cannot see the tip of their noses, yet they pretend to solve the great game in Syria. Diplomacy, like politics, is a delicate art. Diplomacy requires intelligence and foresight, just like politics. This brother of yours has been on the political stage for half a century. With your appreciation, for the last 22 years, I have represented Turkey in the international arena, which is somewhat of a den of wolves.

"WE ARE OPENING OUR EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS"

Despite the provocations of the opposition, we see more clearly today how accurately we have acted in the Syrian crisis. We understand better today how we have contributed to good by not sending our Syrian brothers to their deaths. Today, we are activating our embassy in Damascus. We will stand by the Syrian people in the reconstruction and revival of Syria."