Ankara: After months of relentless Israeli attacks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'worse than Nazi camps,' with people suffering from starvation and lack of access to water. During a news conference in Ankara with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Erdogan accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, using hunger as a weapon, and massacring civilians over the past 22 months.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan described the conditions in Gaza as catastrophic and urged countries, especially Islamic nations, to raise their voices against the ongoing violence. He emphasized Turkey's commitment to holding those responsible for the situation in Gaza accountable and called for legal and historical justice.
In addition to discussing the crisis in Gaza, Erdogan and Tokayev covered various aspects of their bilateral relations. Erdogan highlighted the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Turkey and Kazakhstan, noting Kazakhstan's status as the largest economy and Turkey's biggest trade partner in the region. The two leaders discussed projects in military and defense cooperation, aiming to elevate their partnership further.
Erdogan revealed that Turkish investments in Kazakhstan have reached $5 billion, while Kazakh investments in Turkey are nearing $1.5 billion. Their discussions spanned topics such as defense, energy, transportation, science, and technology. They signed 20 documents and explored cooperation in sectors like mining and rare earth elements. They also deliberated on transporting larger volumes of Kazakh oil to global markets via Turkey and developing the Middle Corridor, a modern-day Silk Road passing through the Caspian Sea.
Security and counter-terrorism efforts, particularly against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), responsible for the failed coup in 2016, were also on the agenda. Erdogan announced the Turkish Maarif Foundation's plans to open schools in Astana and Almaty, strengthening educational ties between the two nations.
Erdogan highlighted the importance of strengthening the Turkic world through bilateral relations and within the Organization of Turkic States. He also addressed the issue of Turkish Cypriots, emphasizing the need to respect their equal and inherent rights, as outlined in the joint statement with Kazakhstan.