“We will further tighten the measures in the first two weeks of Ramadan and implement partial lockdown”

Speaking after the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdoğan said: 'We will further tighten the measures in the first two weeks of Ramadan and implement partial lockdown. Our aim is to achieve a significant drop in case and death numbers. If we cannot accomplish the improvement we expect in the table over the course of these two weeks, stricter measures will be inevitable.'

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the nation following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.

President Erdoğan said: 'Following our last cabinet meeting, besides our other works, we have participated in a series of international events that are of great importance to our country. We discussed during an online summit with the heads of state and government of the Turkic Council the ways to further improve the cooperation in many areas, from healthcare to trade.'

'TURKEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SINCERE AND TRANSPARENT IN ITS RELATIONS WITH THE EU'

'Last week, we hosted President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in our country and thoroughly addressed the issues on our agenda,' President Erdoğan stated.

'We hope that the meeting, which focused on a wide range of topics, from the Customs Union to visa liberalization, from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Aegean and Cyprus, and from the March 18 Memorandum to current developments, will constitute a milestone in terms of our relations. In addition to these mutual topics, we profoundly informed our interlocutors about the issues they raised during the meeting. As we have always said, Turkey has always been sincere and transparent in its relations with the European Union. We have since the very beginning taken one by one the steps that would meet the required conditions for full membership to the European Union.

It is a fact that we are way ahead of the countries, which had applied after us but had rapidly been granted membership to the Bloc, in terms of democratic and economic criteria. Recently, we have prevented Europe from facing an irregular migration flow, which would cause grave political and economic crises, by doing more than what falls to us within the March 18 Memorandum. The reactions, which have been given against democracy and the principles of rule of law in the face of the social unrests that have taken place during the pandemic in European countries, have once again laid bare the double standard against Turkey.'

'WE STICK TO OUR GOAL OF FULL MEMBERSHIP TO THE EU'

President Erdoğan further stressed: 'We still stick to our goal of full membership to the European Union and our commitments in this regard. Our sole request from the European Union is that we go through same processes and practices as the other countries that were granted membership.

Let me underline once again that Turkey's efforts for democracy, human rights, rule of law and for such issues as trust and stability in economy aim primarily to increase its own citizens' level of rights, freedoms and prosperity. We will be happier if we manage this process together with the European Union. Otherwise, we will in any case continue to do what is best, most auspicious and most beneficial for our own citizens.'

'WE EXERT EVERY KIND OF EFFORT TO CONSOLIDATE D-8'

Also pointing to the 10^th D-8 Summit held online last week, President Erdoğan, noting that the D-8 was founded in order for peace, justice, development, sharing, human rights, freedom and democracy prevail instead of war, double standards, exploitation and oppression, said: 'It is unquestionably obvious that the world needs these values. With this understanding, we as Turkey exert every kind of effort to consolidate the D-8, which represent nearly 1.1-billion population, most of whom are young people, and will continue to do so.'

Touching upon the phone call he held with President Vladimir Putin of Russia last Friday, President Erdoğan said: 'We had a very productive phone call during which we addressed many issues, from tourism to Ukraine crisis and from Syria to Karabakh. I believe that the channels of dialogue, which we keep open with Russia whatever the conditions are, lead to actually successful results in preventing the crises in our region from reaching dangerous levels. I think that this strong, efficient and constructive diplomacy cooperation sets a fine example for the resolution of many problems in our region and the world.'

'TURKEY AND UKRAINE'S STEPS TO IMPROVE THEIR RELATIONS IS IMPORTANT TO REGIONAL PEACE'

Recalling the 9th meeting of the Turkey-Ukraine High Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Istanbul on April 10, 2021, which was co-chaired by President Erdoğan and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, President Erdoğan said: 'We discussed bilateral and regional matters, particularly the Donbass crisis between Russia and Ukraine.'

'We once again shared our common concerns over Crimea. We agreed on signing a free trade agreement between our two countries as soon as possible,' President Erdoğan said.

'We believe the steps Turkey and Ukraine will take to further improve their relations is also important to regional peace and serenity,' President Erdoğan underlined.

'WE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURE THAT LIBYA DEVELOPS AND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE'

Recalling his meeting in Ankara with Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and his accompanying delegation, President Erdoğan said: 'We value the peace and serenity of Libya, with which we share long-standing relations that date back nearly 500 years, as much as our own survival.'

'With the strength we derive from our shared history with Libya, we are building our future. We have never hesitated to stand with our Libyan brothers and sistes in the face of attacks against Libya's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political unity. Thanks to the support we gave, we have ensured that Libya got back on track towards stability and peace,' President Erdoğan said.

'During our meeting with Prime Minister Dbeibeh, we have reiterated that we will provide all kinds of support to help the Government of National Unity to restore control over the entire country. Our expectation from the international community is that they put aside the putschists and stand with the legitimate government of Libya. We will continue to offer all kinds of contributions to our brothers and sisters to ensure that Libya heals its wounds, reconstructs, develops and looks to the future with confidence,' President Erdoğan said.

President Erdoğan also underlined that Turkey determinedly implemented measures to overcome financial fluctuations.

Noting that the measures against the COVID-19 pandemic were discussed during the cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan said: 'We will further tighten the measures in the first two weeks of Ramadan and implement partial lockdown. Our aim is to achieve a significant drop in case and death numbers. If we cannot accomplish the improvement we expect in the table over the course of these two weeks, stricter measures will be inevitable.'

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