For Türkiye, a country located at an important position geographically, it is a must for having a robust diplomacy, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.
”Located at the heart of three continents, Türkiye cannot be an onlooker to developments. Being strong in the field and at the table is not an option for us; it is an obligation,” Erdogan said in an address to Turkish ambassadors serving abroad and at home.
The ambassadors gathered in the capital Ankara for the 14th Ambassadors Conference to discuss regional and international developments, global trends, and recent challenges and opportunities.
”We are in pursuit of protecting Türkiye’s interests by employing all the tools of diplomacy and all the elements of hard and soft power,” Erdogan said. Türkiye has become a ”playmaker country” that has left its mark on international relations, whose involvement is sought in many crucial issues, and whose attitude is closely followed, he added.
Turning to the fight against terrorism, Erdogan said Türkiye did not take a step back in the face of terrorist groups, including ASALA and PKK.[…]
Türkiye is the ”key country” in the settlement of Russia-Ukraine crisis, Erdogan said, adding Ankara follows a ”balanced and fair” attitude since the first day to resolve the issue.
Ankara’s talks with the parties are underway for the resumption of Black Sea grain deal, he added.
About his recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan said he had the opportunity to re-get information about Russia’s demands and expectations first-hand.
”Putin, like us, is sensitive about the access of our African brothers to grain products. I believe we can find common ground on this issue,” he added. […]
On recent provocative acts and burning of copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in some Western countries, Erdogan said Türkiye will continue its fight against Islamophobia.
”We need to make more efforts to combat Islamophobia, which has reached an intolerable level in some European states in recent weeks,” he added. Islamophobic figures or groups have repeatedly carried out Quran burnings and similar desecration attempts in Northern Europe in recent months, drawing outrage from Muslim countries and the world.
”It is the primary duty of all of us as Turks and Muslims to prevent attacks on the Quran and to ensure that the perpetrators of these hate crimes are punished the way they deserve. Läs artikel