President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said regarding the conflicts between Israel and Iran,"The most correct, beneficial and rational approach would be to take our hands off the trigger and give diplomacy a chance to resolve disagreements. As Turkey, we will resolutely continue our principled stance that prioritizes diplomacy that observes international law."

President Erdoğan held a press conference at Esenboğa Airport before his visit to The Hague, Netherlands, to attend the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.

Stating that they will evaluate the steps that will strengthen the deterrence and defense of the alliance at the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, Erdoğan said:

"We will set new targets for increasing the defense spending of our allies. As Turkey, we particularly advocate for fair burden sharing and strengthening European security. We are an ally that directs and manages NATO's second largest land army. While we are continuously developing our country's defense capabilities, we also contribute to the alliance's deterrence. We attach importance to strengthening the defense industry within the alliance. However, while setting out with the goal of a stronger defense and a more effective army, we do not find it right to impose obstacles to trade in defense products among the allies. These obstacles and restrictions must be removed as soon as possible, without any hassles or buts. In this context, we are also closely following the European Union's recent initiatives in the field of defense and security."

Emphasizing that Türkiye, which contributes more to the security of Europe than the total of many of its members, should be appropriately included in the Union's defense initiatives, Erdoğan said,"The inclusion of the Turkish defense sector in the Union's defense mechanisms and projects will benefit the entire Union. We are in close consultation with our non-Union allies on this issue first. We plan to address measures supporting the European pillar of the alliance. We will also draw attention to what the alliance needs to do in this area as the ally that made the greatest contribution to the concept of combating terrorism within the alliance with a foresighted approach years ago."

President Erdoğan stated that efforts to end the war in Ukraine with a just solution and permanently are among the topics of the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, and announced that the allies will also meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy.

Erdoğan said,"We will explain our efforts to end the war through diplomacy without prejudicing our responsibilities towards the alliance. We brought the parties together in Istanbul a few days ago after a three-year hiatus. We were instrumental in making and implementing decisions regarding the prisoner and body exchange. We are planning new steps for the continuation of the Istanbul process."

Stating that they will draw attention to the Netanyahu government's massacres against the Palestinian people both at the summit and in their bilateral talks, Erdoğan said that they will underline that the policy of occupation, invasion and destruction that has been going on for 21 months must end as soon as possible.

"OUR REGION CANNOT BEAR THE BURDEN OF A WAR THE EFFECTS OF WHICH WILL BE FELT ALL OVER THE WORLD"

President Erdoğan recalled that there have been initiatives based on negotiations since the very beginning of the process that started with Israel's attacks on Iran, and noted the following:

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"We met with many leaders, including Mr. Trump and Mr. Pezeshkian. We brought together the Foreign Ministers of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. We are closely following the developments following the statements made by American President Trump yesterday. We appreciate and sincerely support any efforts that will ensure a ceasefire in the region and then pave the way for permanent peace. Indeed, we welcome the news that came late last night that an agreement was reached between the parties on a ceasefire. We invite all parties to fully comply with the ceasefire. I have stated it before. Our region cannot bear the burden of a war whose effects will be felt all over the world. Taking our hands off the trigger and giving diplomacy a chance to resolve disagreements would be the most correct, beneficial and rational approach. As Turkey, we will resolutely continue our principled stance that prioritizes diplomacy that observes international law."

Stating that Türkiye wants to host the NATO Summit in 2026, Erdoğan said,"We will hold bilateral meetings with leaders from our allies and alliance partners on the margins of the summit."

"THIS WAR CANNOT LAST FOREVER"

In response to a question about the talks held in Istanbul under Türkiye's mediation regarding the Ukraine-Russia War, Erdoğan made the following assessment:

"The efforts we, as Turkey, have made to end this war are known to everyone. We sincerely believe that a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia is possible. We have done and are doing everything we can to achieve this peace. We are a country that has earned the trust of both sides. Thanks to this trust, concrete progress has been made even in an atmosphere of war. The talks in Istanbul are one of the most important steps taken. We want the talks to be taken further and to start on a path that will end the war. We hope that developments on the ground will also increase this glimmer of hope. This war cannot last forever. We need to roll up our sleeves for peace, strengthen the dialogue ground established in Istanbul and present the peace table with a much higher level of participation. We will also explain this vision to our interlocutors at the NATO summit and state that we will not stop until peace is achieved."

"ISRAELI AGGRESSION MUST STOP COMPLETELY IN OUR ENTIRE REGION"

In response to a press member's question,"A ceasefire decision was made on the 12th day of the war that started with Israel's attack on Iran. However, the ceasefire is being violated by both sides. How do you interpret the process?" President Erdoğan made the following remarks:

"Israel's attacks on Iran have ignited a major threat to the peace and tranquility of our region. Israel's reckless steps, starting with Palestine and extending to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and finally Iran, are completely unacceptable. Global actors must take effective measures to put an end to this madness. Otherwise, not only our region but the entire world will pay the price. We will continue to call on everyone to common sense and say that the possibilities of diplomacy are sufficient to find solutions to all kinds of issues. What we mean by conflicts is not only the tension between Israel and Iran. We also want Israel's unlawful oppression, which uses hunger as a weapon in Gaza, to end. We have always said that this tension should not overshadow the atrocities in Gaza, which started with Israel's attack on Iran. The humanitarian situation there is getting worse by the day. A permanent ceasefire should be established in Gaza as soon as possible, Israeli attacks should stop and the way should be opened for the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid. Israeli aggression It must come to a complete halt throughout our entire region."

"WE HAD DEALT THE HEAVIEST BLOW TO THIS ORGANIZATION"

President Erdoğan answered another member of the press's question,"Sir, just as we were about to lay down our weapons in the 'Turkey Without Terrorism' process, and the YPG had reached an agreement with the Damascus administration, we received news of a terrorist attack on a church in Damascus, and it was announced that this attack was carried out by ISIS. First of all, how do you evaluate this attack? Then, are global powers trying to create the perception that 'ISIS is still active' in order not to destroy the YPG?" as follows:

"No matter what happens around us, we will continue to achieve our goal of a Terror-Free Turkey, especially this promise we made, without any interruption in our march. We are determined to make this process, which we are carrying out meticulously as a state policy, successful, God willing. Terrorism has often been used as a tool in our region. We are a country that knows very well the bloody and treacherous face of ISIS. We dealt the heaviest blow to this organization with the Euphrates Shield Operation. We once again offer our condolences to the Syrian people for the heinous terrorist attack targeting the church.

The efforts made by Syria for peace and stability after the 13-year civil war are commendable. The Syrian administration will never allow those who want to neutralize these efforts and bring Syria back to a future of conflict. The Syrian administration is extremely determined to fight all terrorist organizations, including ISIS. We are giving them the necessary support and will continue to do so. Syria will hopefully reach its prosperous and peaceful future. I have full faith that the Syrian administration will take effective steps in the fight against terrorism and make progress in a short time."