President Erdoğan: We will Settle 2 Million People in Safe Zone

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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has spoken at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Plenary Session on the occasion of the opening of the third legislative year of the Parliament's 27th term.

Touching upon a series of issues, ranging from the situation in Syria to the relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and earthquake preparedness of Turkey, Erdoğan made the following remarks in brief:

'360 thousand refugees have returned'

"Just as we cannot turn our backs to Syria, we cannot remain indifferent to any part of the Asian geography. None of our activities outside our borders has an aim of occupation or exploitation.

"Any developments that unfold in any inch of the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea directly concern us. We will not abandon our humane stance no matter what price we pay.

"What we need to do is to create a safe climate where the refugees who go back to their own countries can maintain their lives as soon as possible. The number of refugees who have returned has reached 360 thousand.

"Turkey does not have a single day to lose. We are planning to settle 2 million people in a 30-kilometer-wide safe zone. Our projects are ready. We shared them with heads of state at our bilateral meetings at the UN.

"After saving the region from the occupation of the terrorist organization, we will start this project with the international support that we will receive."

'We have closed the subject of IMF'

Erdoğan also referred to the economic situation of the country. Indicating that "after the hardship that the country experienced in August, the economy administration of Turkey has taken several precautions", Erdoğan has said,

"I would like reiterate once again that we have closed the subject of IMF in May 2013 not to be opened every again".

'We are more prepared than 17 years ago'

Referring lastly to the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that hit İstanbul on September 26, President and AKP Chair Erdoğan indicated,

"There are 1.5 million buildings waiting to be transformed immediately. It is a fact that we have not yet reached our desired level, Turkey is still more prepared for disasters that it was 17 years ago". (DB/SD)

* Photograph: AA