Addressing the nation following a meeting on the statement, issued by retired admirals, Erdoğan said: “On behalf of myself and my nation, I extend my gratitude to all the political party leaders, representatives, legal bodies, universities and civil society organizations that gave the statement the answer it deserved and sided with the national will. We, together with our nation, will put those, who dared to threaten the nation and the elected government, in their place.”
“This act, carried out at midnight, is certainly a malevolent attempt, given its tone, method and the debates it will evidently lead to. It is not the duty of retired admirals to come together, 104 of them, and issue a statement, which contains coup implications, regarding a political debate,” Erdoğan underscored.
“The cause of the dispute here is by no means freedom of speech,” Erdoğan said. “Some of the names, who signed the statement, had already been, for a long time, expressing their opinions on various media outlets and political grounds.”
“No investigation has been launched or action has been taken against those, who voiced their opinions on media outlets, due to their political remarks. However, in a country, whose past is full of coups and statements, it is unacceptable for 104 retired admirals to come together one night and carry out such an attempt. We cannot call this freedom of speech. Freedom of speech does not cover sentences which begin with ‘otherwise’ and threaten the elected government of the country with coup. Such an attempt, despite the title of admiral, defamation, targeting the gallant Turkish Armed Forces. Such methods and remarks would be regarded as an attack against democracy, the rule of law and the supremacy of national will and be treated accordingly anywhere in the world,” Erdoğan said.
“Our people know quite well from our near history where it will lead to unless we immediately take a stand in the most effective way against clear threats against the national will. Therefore, we pay particular attention to the statement and display our determination to implement every necessary measure,” Erdoğan underlined.
“The Montreux Convention was a significant gain for Turkey”
Highlighting that the statement mentioned the Montreux Convention, Erdoğan said: “Given the circumstances of the era, this convention, which gave the control of the straits to Turkey instead of a commission albeit numerous limitations, was a significant gain.”
“Despite everything, we regard the gains, the Montreux Convention provided to our country, to be important and maintain our commitment to the convention until we find the opportunity for a better one,” Erdoğan said, noting that the convention had been discussed on various occasion in the academic world, media as well as diplomatic and military circles.
“We currently have neither any efforts nor intention to leave the Montreux Convention”
Highlighting that the attempted link between Canal Istanbul and the Montreux Convention was fundamentally wrong, Erdoğan said: “Thanks to Canal Istanbul, Turkey will gain alternative completely under its sovereignty outside the limitations of the Montreux Convention while also alleviating the heavy maritime traffic in the Bosphorus. It is our struggle for sovereignty.”
“Canal Istanbul is a project, which will strengthen Turkey’s sovereign rights over the straits,” Erdoğan underscored.
“As President and Chairman of the largest party in the country, it is my duty to do what is necessary for the rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish nation,” President Erdoğan reiterated. “We currently have neither any efforts nor intention to leave the Montreux Convention. However, if such a need presents itself in the future, we will not hesitate to review every convention to introduce a better one for our country. And we will open them to international discussion.”
Erdoğan also underlined that turning issues, which could be resolved within the boundaries of democracy and the law, into a pretext for statements with coup implications was not a sign of commitment to the Constitution despite the political authority, but a clear threat to the Constitution.