President Erdoğan’s Speech at the Expanded Provincial Chairpersons Meeting
President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at the Expanded Provincial Chairpersons Meeting held at the AK Party Conference Hall, emphasized that the meeting was taking place at a time when significant and historic developments were occurring in the region.
President Erdoğan stated, “We cannot allow Syria to be divided once again. We will never tolerate the transformation of the country’s land into a field of conflict once again.”
He further noted, “The people of Syria have, thank God, crowned their noble uprising, which overthrew a regime of oppression lasting for years and allowed them to claim their freedom, rights, and future, with victory.”
Erdoğan referred to the lines of a poem:
“From tense sleeps, from blind nights,
A morning will come with light from the snow.
From knot upon knot of riddles,
A morning will come with light from the snow,
Struck in the spring of their life,
Flowers of their blood bloom on the shoulder of martyrs,
A morning will come with light from the snow.”
He said these verses had now taken on flesh and bone in Syria.
“A Door to a Prosperous Future Has Opened for the Syrian People”
Erdoğan emphasized that after 61 years of Ba’ath dictatorship, which had been in complete darkness for the past 13 years, Syria was now moving towards brighter days. He continued, “The minority regime that Assad kept alive for years through oppression, cruelty, and massacres has collapsed with the liberation of Damascus on Sunday, December 8. A door to a prosperous and happy future has now opened for the Syrian people. Hopefully, the terror organizations such as ISIS and PKK/PYD in other parts of Syria will be defeated soon. Thus, Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty will be fully strengthened throughout the country.”
Erdoğan also stressed that no power with reason and conscience would continue to work with terrorist organizations at such a crucial time for Syria’s unity and brotherhood. He further added, “Turkey, with all its political, diplomatic, economic, and military capabilities, will always stand by the Syrian people in this historic struggle. As we have always said, Syria belongs to the Syrians, with all its religious and ethnic groups. We hope that the suffering of the past will light the way to a peaceful, strong, and prosperous Syria in the future.”
“We Cannot Allow Syria to be Divided Again”
President Erdoğan underlined that Turkey had made significant sacrifices and efforts to bring Syria to its current state. He emphasized that Turkey had protected and sheltered the Syrian people both within its borders and near its borders for years, even when the world turned its back on them.
He said, “We did this not with complaints, but with contentment. Our Lord has granted us the opportunity to pass the test of brotherhood with flying colors at a difficult time for both our humanity and our Islam. Some attempted to poison this process with hate speech, to stain Turkey’s unparalleled hospitality with racist vandalism. But our people acted with foresight and, thank God, did not fall for the fascist mindset’s games.”
Erdoğan reiterated, “From now on, we cannot allow Syria to be divided again. We will never tolerate the country’s land becoming a field of conflict again. We will not accept any steps or provocations aimed at preventing the return of the Syrian people to their homes. Any attack on the freedom of the Syrian people, the stability of the new Syrian government, and the integrity of Syria’s ancient lands will face us, alongside the Syrian people. We will not remain passive while some, emboldened by the powers they are supported by, fuel fanaticism and misguided ideologies, plunging our region into blood and fire.”
“We Will Continue to Support Syria”
President Erdoğan affirmed that Turkey would continue to provide every kind of support to Syria. He expressed that Turkey sought security, peace, and prosperity for everyone, and emphasized that the way to guarantee Turkey’s own security and stability was to extend this peace to the entire region.
Erdoğan remarked, “We will continue to support the Syrian people in their magnificent revolution. We will also support those who are preparing to return home from Turkey, just as we have done here.”
Regarding the opposition’s provocations, Erdoğan criticized the CHP for its hate-mongering actions and stressed that Turkey would not allow any few opportunistic individuals to tarnish the country’s hospitality.
“Political Renewal and Change in AK Party”
President Erdoğan also addressed internal developments within the AK Party, stating that they were in an important process of renewal. He highlighted that the district congresses had been largely completed, and the provincial congresses had started according to the planned schedule. Erdoğan added, “I plan to personally attend all congresses in metropolitan cities. Our goal is to complete all provincial congresses by February.”
Erdoğan stated that, in Turkish political history, no other party had stayed in power as long as the AK Party. He acknowledged the responsibility that this long period of governance brought, as well as the need for significant renewal.
“The Need for Self-Reflection and Accountability”
Erdoğan reminded that politics requires honesty and self-reflection. He acknowledged that the AK Party faced criticism for not maintaining close and effective relationships with different segments of the population, as well as with the party’s central and parliamentary groups. He stressed that the congress process would provide an opportunity for sincere self-criticism and adjustment.
“We need to identify our mistakes, weaknesses, and areas where we fell short,” Erdoğan emphasized. “We will address these issues with the most effective methods and focus on regaining the trust of our people.”
“No Party Can Defeat AK Party”
President Erdoğan concluded by stating that no party could challenge the AK Party’s success, either in the field or at the ballot box. He referenced a poem by the late Abdurrahim Karakoç to describe the AK Party’s approach to politics: “We will never harm even a leaf, and we will always adhere to the principles of fairness, justice, and integrity in politics.”
Erdoğan remarked that the AK Party’s success was not only due to its policies and services but also its unwavering commitment to its founding values, which had kept the party in power for over 22 years. He expressed confidence that the AK Party would continue to guide Turkey towards its goals in the coming years.
“Turkey’s Economic Strategy”
Finally, President Erdoğan addressed the economic challenges Turkey faced, emphasizing that external attacks had intensified since 2018, through methods such as the FETÖ coup attempt and regional provocations. He noted that Turkey had successfully controlled the situation through the application of a strong economic program.
Erdoğan assured that Turkey would continue to focus on policies that benefit everyone, and would maintain strong production, employment, and exports. He emphasized that the government would provide further support to low-income groups affected by rising prices and that Turkey would continue to expand its social welfare network to address economic challenges.
