Making a speech at the inauguration of Konya City Hospital, Erdoğan said: “All the actors of the international community have had to take Turkey into consideration in regional and global equations as a result of our determined, active and unwavering stance. We are now a country which has an essential place both on the ground and at the table.”

“Turkey is tried to be excluded from the world order sought to be restructured”

Drawing attention to the enormous acceleration the ongoing transformation of the world has gained due to COVID-19 pandemic, Erdoğan said: “The endeavors our country has recently been carrying out both at home and abroad are not independent of this global transformation process. Just like a century ago, just like half a century ago, Turkey is yet again tried to be excluded from the world order sought to be restructured. Almost all the crisis areas that currently keep the world busy are located around our country. The picture that emerges when you interconnect those crisis points from Syria to the Mediterranean to the Caucasus indicates a blatant attempt to put Turkey under siege. We foresaw this plot well in advance. On one hand, we protected our national unity and our country’s integrity as well as our state’s strength. On the other hand, we implemented one by one steps to break the siege. What is more, with our insistence that ‘the world is bigger than five,’ we gave a message to those who, so-to-speak, obstructed the global system that this wouldn’t be so easy. Those who, turning a deaf ear to our words and belittling our efforts, disregarded our country and tried to carry on with their old habits, eventually saw that the truth was nothing like they imagined.”

Underlining that Turkey has thus far stood behind whatever it has said and honored whatever commitment it has made, Erdoğan said: “All the actors of the international community have had to take Turkey into consideration in regional and global equations as a result of our determined, active and unwavering stance. We are now a country which has an essential place both on the ground and at the table.”

“Any place posing a threat to us is a zone of operation for us”

In its fight against terror, Turkey has been living one of the most successful periods of its history, the President said. “On the ground in Syria, we have control over an area of 8,200 square kilometers. Those who still have plans to threaten our country by creating enclaves of terror inside Syria had better realize that such tricks have no chance of success. Any place posing a threat to us is a zone of operation for us.”

Stressing that enemies of Turkey seek to enact in the Mediterranean a plot similar to the one in Syria, Erdoğan stated: “With the agreement we signed with Libya after the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), we turned a major part of the Eastern Mediterranean into a legitimate area of activity for us. In addition, the large natural gas reserves we discovered in the Black Sea made sure we were rewarded for our efforts while also boosting our morale. Those who failed to make our country back down through empty threats and blackmails or ridiculous shows of strength eventually had to give ear to our calls for dialogue.”

Also touching upon the latest developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, Erdoğan said: “Armenia has attacked Azerbaijani lands again while the issue of Karabakh, which it occupied with despicable massacres, has yet to be resolved. This time, however, it confronted an outcome it never expected. The brotherly Azerbaijan launched a major counter operation both to defend its own lands and to liberate Karabakh, which is under occupation. The Azerbaijani army, which has successfully advanced at the front thus far, has saved many places from occupation. As Turkey, we wholeheartedly and with all our capabilities, stand with the friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan, and we will continue to do so. Allah willing, this struggle will go on until the liberation of Karabakh from occupation.” (ILKHA)