Egemen Bagis’ speech at the 19th Eurasian Economic Summit Main topics:Refugee, Terror, Migration, International Cooperation

1. 19th Eurasian Economic Summit - Forced Migration, Refugee Issue and Terrorism panelEgemen Bagis
ISTANBUL
07 APRIL 2016
19th Eurasian Economic Summit
«Forced Migration, Refugee Issue
and Terrorism» panel
Egemen Bagis’ speech at the 19th Eurasian Economic Summit
Main topics:
• Refugee
• Terror
• Migration
• International Cooperation

2. 19th Eurasian Economic Summit - Forced Migration, Refugee Issue and Terrorism panelEgemen Bagis
Dear Rostrum,
Esteemed Guests and Spiritual Leaders,
I would like to give a start to my speech by thanking Mr. Suver and his great team. For 19 years, the Marmara Group Foundation, as mentioned
previously by H.H. Yusuf Sağ, has carried out dialogue initiative that the world is in dire need of through these meetings which have become a national
brand.
Because there is no any other city in the world history that had been crowned as the capital of three past empires. This meeting is of great importance
thanks to its location, Istanbul – which is the cultural capital of Europe besides having been distinguished as the capital of Byzantine, Roman and
Ottoman Empire.
The discussion topic of this panel is refugee issue and terror. We, as Turkey, have learnt both through bitter experiences. We have been acquainted with
the refugee issue. Not now, as how we embraced the Jews having been expelled from Spain, the people escaped from the World War I and II, Iraqis fled
from the bombs and gases of Saddam Hussain, as the presence of people fleeing from Poland has still been living in Polonezköy, even as once Khomeini
came, likewise, today we host 2.7 million Syrians who seek for a refugee within the boundaries of Turkey. This is not new. Thus, our guests should not be
deceived by the EU-Turkey deal. We have been hosting Syrians for four years. As how we did for everybody. In the different refugee camps of the UN,
while 1.5 dollar is spent per refugee, Turkey offers the high quality food, clothing, education and health services by spending 7.5 dollar per person.
Terror is what we are aware of closely. As a country, we have been the victim of PKK, PYD, YPG, DHKP-C and recently FETO. The West has ignored the
calls of Turkey related to the refugee issue as well as the terrorism. There is a European Convention on Extradition of Offenders between countries. When
Turkey demands a criminal of Turkish origin, if a crime of terrorism is on the question, then the criminal is expected to be extradited to the related
country, in this regard to Turkey. However, when the crime is related to terrorism, the European countries have generally preferred for the release of
criminals. In the last three decades, no single PKK terrorist has been extradited to Turkey. Even this example explains everything. The world needs
dialogue. Before arriving here, I have read a news regarding statements of the President of Finland; Finland is reportedly to take 1000 refugees. Our
Syrian Catholic Church helps 1000 Syrian every day. Turkey has been drawing attention on terrorism for ages. And our dear brother Emir has paid
attention to our concerns and become our voice in Belgium. They have hosted terrorists who killed one of the most prominent businessmen of Turkey.
Moreover, they allowed terrorist organizations to make propaganda while Turkish official were negotiating. However, terrorism is not a problem of a
single country. Terrorism hits Istanbul as well as Paris, Diyarbakır, Brussels, Islamabad or Brussels. Thus, today, there is no possibility for any country to
fight against terrorism by themselves. In this context, we need cooperation as much as dialogue.
If you excuse me, I would like to continue sharing my views in English and leave the floor.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When September 11th took place, the newly established AK Parti's Chairman who is now Turkey's President issued a statement. Saying that terrorism has
no religion, no race, no ethnicity, no creed and no ideology what so ever. And the only way to fight terrorism is for international cooperation. Today,
international cooperation is needed more than ever. Because we see a cooperation among terrorist organizations but we still do not have as much
cooperation among states that are fighting with terrorism. We have to redefine the term terrorism. And we have to fight against it all together. And
regarding the refugees, they do not belong in Europe, they do not belong in Turkey either. Where they belong is their homeland as Emir has said a while
ago. But in order for them to go back to their homeland, there has to be stability. The reason of so many people having fled their homeland is because
they do not feel safe. I think it is time to make sure Mr. Putin's puppet Mr. Assad went somewhere else and let the tradition changed. Nowadays there is
a tradition of establishing terrorist organizations in the Middle East. I think it is time to change it with establishing political parties in the Middle East. If
democracy is good for me as good for you and good for the people of Syria. Let Syrian people establish their own democracy and run their country with
stability. So we do not need to deal with the refugee crisis but we reconstruct the Syrian nation's stability.
Thank you very much for your attention and thank you for organizing this event!