German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Germany and Turkey are two countries that cannot do without each other and we need each other.

This came in a joint press conference on Wednesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital, Ankara.

Steinmeier explained that relations between Germany and Turkey are based on a long and rich history, and that he is visiting Turkey coinciding with the centenary of the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He added: “Our country does not have such intense friendly and family relations with any other country as is the case with Turkey.”

Steinmeier stated that these relations are not limited only to the two states and governments, but rather there are distinct human and popular relations.

He pointed out that about 3 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany since the signing of the labor agreement in 1961.

He stressed the need to restore importance and momentum in Turkish-German relations in a short time, especially in these difficult times.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, the German President said that Israel’s security cannot be guaranteed without a political perspective for the Palestinians, and this can only be achieved with a two-state solution.

Steinmeier stressed the need to reform the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country and Germany aim to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries from $50 billion to $60 billion.

This came in a joint press conference on Wednesday held by President Erdogan with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Erdogan added: “We hope that Turkey and Germany will from now on talk about joint production projects in defense industries and not about obstacles.”

He continued: “We want to completely remove from our agenda the restrictions we face in the defense industries with Germany.”

He stressed that human ties contributed to strengthening existing bilateral relations between the two countries, thanking in this context the German people for standing by the Turks in the devastating earthquake disaster that struck southern Turkey on February 6, 2023.

The Turkish President pointed out that he discussed with his German counterpart bilateral relations in all their aspects and details, stressing Ankara’s desire to strengthen relations with Berlin.

He continued: “Our cooperation in the field of tourism is developing day after day. In 2023, we hosted more than 6 million German tourists, and I believe that this number will increase.”

He added: “We discussed the steps that must be taken, especially with regard to the customs union agreement and visa liberalization. We also exchanged views on regional and international developments.”

Erdogan indicated that he discussed with Steinmeier issues related to the Turkish community in Germany, and stated that they attach importance to the integration of the Turkish community there and encourage it to do so.

He stressed that Turkey considers the new German citizenship law, which makes dual citizenship possible, an important step in this context.

He added, “But on the other hand, our concerns are increasing about the anti-foreigner, anti-Islamic, far-right, and racist organizations that are rising in Germany and throughout Europe.”

He stated that during his meeting with Steinmeier, he also touched on combating terrorist organizations that disturb the peace in Germany and attack representative offices belonging to Turkey.

He continued: “We need more effective cooperation in combating these organizations that harm our alliance. We expect more support and solidarity from the German authorities in the fight against terrorism.”

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country is currently making efforts regarding the exchange of hostages between Israel and the Palestinian factions, expressing his hope for success in this.

This came in a joint press conference on Wednesday held by President Erdogan with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The Turkish President renewed his calls to stop the Israeli injustice that has been continuing in Gaza for more than 200 days.

He stressed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is endangering the security of our entire region, including his own citizens, in order to prolong his political career.”

The Turkish President also warned of Israel’s efforts to divert attention from its “crimes against humanity and its massacres in Gaza.”

He pointed out that everyone realizes that as long as the Israeli attacks continue, the threats to regional and global peace will increase, and that the escalating tension between Iran and Israel last week is the latest and most prominent example of this.

He added: “We all know that the suffering of innocent people (Palestinians) condemned to death, hunger and misery will not be forgotten even after generations have passed, and we in Turkey have taken a firm, conscious and courageous stance on this issue from day one.”

He added: “We will continue to intensify our efforts to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza and provide adequate, uninterrupted humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.”

Regarding trade and economic relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv, President Erdogan said: “We no longer establish extensive trade relations with Israel. The matter has ended, and our Foreign Minister announced this a short time ago.”

President Erdogan pointed out that some of those injured in Gaza, including children, women and the elderly, continue to be treated in Türkiye.

He stressed the horror of the current situation in Gaza, adding, “Our German friends must see the bitter scene of children, women and the elderly in Gaza. Gaza and Palestine have been completely destroyed.”

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Turkey, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE on Monday concluded a four-way memorandum of understanding for cooperation on the “Development Road” project.

The memorandum was signed at the Republican Palace in the capital, Baghdad, under the patronage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani.

The Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Oraloglu, the Iraqi Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi, the Qatari Minister of Transport, Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti, and the Emirati Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Muhammad Al-Mazrouei, participated in the signing ceremony.

President Erdogan arrived in Baghdad on Monday morning, accompanied by a large number of Turkish ministers, to meet with Iraqi officials.

The “Development Road” project is a land and railway road extending from Iraq to Turkey and its ports, with a length of 1,200 kilometers inside Iraq, and aims to transport goods between Europe and the Gulf countries.

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Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said that the expected visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraq tomorrow, Monday, represents a “qualitative shift” in bilateral relations between the two countries and will witness the discussion of “important files.”

This came in statements made by Al-Awadi prior to Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad, and comes 12 years after his last visit to Iraq.

Al-Awadi added that the visit will be a “qualitative shift” in Iraqi-Turkish relations, especially since preparations for it have been taking place for about a year.

It is expected that Erdogan’s visit to Iraq will give an “important impetus” to strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries, in addition to politics and security issues.

Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Polat previously said that Baghdad and Ankara will sign during President Erdogan’s visit to Iraq “a joint declaration regarding the establishment of the joint economic and trade committee and the protocol for establishing a consultation and cooperation mechanism in the areas of product safety and technical barriers.”

He added: “The Turkish Council for Foreign Economic Relations and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Iraq will also sign 3 agreements in the trade field, including a memorandum of understanding.”

The Iraqi government spokesman explained that “there are 4 important files on the agenda, the most important of which is the water file and the development road file, in addition to the security file related to the terrorist PKK organization.”

The fourth file, according to Al-Awadi, is “the Turkish companies file, which gains its importance from the strength of trade exchanges between Iraq and Turkey, in addition to other files that will dominate the Turkish president’s visit to Baghdad.”

Regarding the water file, Al-Awadi pointed out, “A strategic agreement will be signed between Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, given that Turkey is a country described internationally as one of the best countries in the world in investing in water wealth by all means and methods, and therefore they have great experience.”

Regarding the development path, the spokesman stressed that “there will be important agreements and things announced between the two sides, given that the center of the path is Turkey, and it will be at the heart of the negotiations, along with the file of Turkish companies’ investments and their role and work in Iraq.”

The development road project includes a land road and a railway linking trade routes in Asia, the Gulf states to the south, and European markets through Turkish territory.

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Erdal Eren, head of the Turkish Contractors Union, said that the attention of his colleagues in the sector is directed to the projects to be implemented within the framework of the “development road” that passes through Iraq and Turkish territory.

This came in an interview about the investment goals of Turkish contractors in Iraq on the eve of the expected visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad on Monday.

Eren added that Turkish contractors aspire to complete the entire “Development Road” project.

He stressed that the huge projects of highways, bridges, and railways completed by Turkish contractors inside Turkey are an indication of their ability to complete the entire “development path.”

Eren pointed out that the “development path” seems to open the door to other projects in Iraq as well.

He stated that the projects that will result from the launch of the “Development Road” include the construction of new cities and residential areas and other projects along the path of the project, whose investment budget amounts to about 17 billion dollars.

Eren stressed the importance of President Erdogan’s visit to Iraq for Turkish contractors and the future of their projects in this Arab country.

The “Development Road” project is a land road and railway extending from Iraq to Turkey and its ports. The length of the road and railway is 1,200 kilometers inside Iraq, and the project aims to transport goods between Europe and the Gulf countries.

It is scheduled to be completed in three phases, the first ending in 2028, the second in 2033, and the third in 2050.

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The Turkish head of religious affairs, Ali Erbaş, said that Pope Francis expressed his thanks to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the contributions he makes to world peace.

This came in press statements made by Erbaş on Saturday at the headquarters of the Turkish Embassy in the Vatican, where he moved after his meeting with Pope Francis.

Erbaş added that Pope Francis praised the efforts made by President Erdogan to achieve world peace.

Pope Francis described Erdogan as “one of the few strong leaders who work hard and do everything in their power to achieve world peace.”

Erbaş explained that Pope Francis conveyed his peace and greetings to President Erdogan, thanking him for his efforts for world peace.

In a related context, Erbaş said that he delivered a message from President Erdogan to the Pope of the Vatican regarding developments in Palestine and the Gaza Strip.

Earlier on Saturday, the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Department stated in a statement that President Erdogan sent a message regarding Palestine to Pope Francis in which he stressed the need for humanity not to allow further violations of international law in Gaza.

President Erdogan added in his message: “Permanent peace and stability cannot be achieved in the Middle East without reaching a just solution to the Palestinian issue.”

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Turkish Justice and Development Party spokesman Omer Çelik said that the attack on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s approach to Palestine is “unfounded and unfair.”

Çelik confirmed on the “X” platform that President Erdogan’s clear position on the issue of Palestine and Jerusalem and his solidarity with the Palestinians in the occupied territories is “an indisputable fact.”

He pointed out that President Erdogan’s diplomatic efforts to stop the Israeli war on Gaza since October 7 and his tireless efforts at various levels are known to the entire world.

He pointed out that Erdogan “is the only leader who has expressed his opposition before the eyes of world leaders to those who describe the Palestinians who are resisting for their land and rights as terrorists, and history has recorded this position for him.”

He added: “Our president received the appreciation of the Palestinian people and leaders on every occasion for this approach and actual support.”

He added: “Because of his consistent approach towards Palestine, our president is being targeted by prominent names in the network of massacre perpetrators and the government of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.”

He continued, “Despite all the attacks he was subjected to throughout his political career, our president did not give up defending the Palestinian cause, even for a single moment.”

He added: “Our president considers the Palestinian issue one of the basic elements of our national policy, and attacks on his position on Palestine are baseless, unfair, and have no justification.”

He stressed that “President Erdogan, as the voice of the Turkish people and the global conscience, is the strongest supporter and defender of the Palestinian cause and the oppressed people of Gaza.”

Since last October 7, the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza that has left tens of thousands dead and wounded, most of them children and women, according to Palestinian sources, which necessitated Tel Aviv’s trial before the International Court of Justice on the grounds of “genocide.”

The post Attacking President Erdogan’s approach is “unfair” appeared first on Move 2 Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday night that Turkey had completed local elections in a manner befitting its democracy.

The Turkish President’s speech came in a speech he delivered from the balcony of the (ruling) Justice and Development Party headquarters in the capital, Ankara, after the majority of ballot boxes had been counted in the local elections.

President Erdogan explained that the Turkish people conveyed their message to politicians through the ballot boxes.

He said: “Thank God, we completed the local elections in a manner befitting our democracy.”

He added: “Regardless of the results, the winner of these elections is our democracy and our national will.”

Erdogan considered the March 31 local elections a turning point.

He explained: “March 31 is not the end for us, but in fact it is a turning point.”

He said that all voters in the elections won these elections, whether those who elected the Justice and Development Party or the “Public Alliance” (parties allied with the Justice and Development) or those who strengthened the power of the ballot boxes by using their democratic right to vote.

The Turkish President added that the Justice and Development Party did not get what it had hoped for in the results of the local elections.

He assured the Turkish people that the party would conduct self-criticism with full transparency and courage.

Erdogan stressed that his party has always shown respect for democracy and what emerges from the ballot boxes.

He said: “Today we act with the same sense of responsibility and do not recognize any force above the will of the people.”

According to unofficial preliminary results, the opposition Republican People’s Party topped the elections, obtaining more than 37 percent of the votes across the country, and the Justice and Development Party came second with more than 35 percent of the votes after 93 percent of the votes were counted.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast his vote in the local elections that began Sunday morning across the country.

The Turkish President and his wife, Amina, cast their votes in a school in the Uskudar area on the Asian side of Istanbul.

A large number of citizens who came to vote gathered in the school garden to welcome President Erdogan and take memorial photos with him.

In statements to reporters after the vote, Erdogan said: “I believe that there will be a result that will bring good to our country and our people, God willing.”

Erdogan indicated that these elections will be a means to the beginning of a new era in Turkey.

He expressed his hope that the new era would contribute to the launch of the new centenary of the Turkish Republic.

On Sunday morning, Turkish voters began heading to the polls to choose their candidates in the 81 local administration elections for a five-year term.

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