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Erdogan's emphasises 'peaceful' foreign policy during inaugural speech

August 29, 2014 at 1:01 pm

Turkey’s new President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday stressed his country’s non-confrontational foreign policy agenda following his inauguration.

In his inaugural speech at the Cankaya Palace, Ankara, Erdogan said that the main objective of the Turkish foreign policy is peacebuilding, cooperation and welfare, with no expansionist or interventionist ambitions.

The election of a president, he said, marks a new beginning in the history of Turkey, reminiscent of the establishment of the Turkish republic.

Erdogan hailed his predecessor Abdullah Gul and thanked him for seven years of sincere service, referring to him as “the long-term companion”.

He pointed out that Turkey will move steadily towards its “strategic goal” of joining the European Union.

He also said that internal efforts for peace and for resolving the Kurdish issue will continue.

“History and geography obliged us to adopt a foreign policy that stands against injustice and oppression,” he said, referring to Turkey’s stance on Gaza and its hosting of 1.2 million Syrian refugees. “We, in Turkey, will not stay silent about the killing of people in Syria,” he said.