UPDATE - Turkish president urges Turkic unity for just resolution of Palestinian issue

UPDATE WITH FURTHER REMARKS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called for unity among Turkic nations to support a just resolution of the Palestinian issue.

"As the Turkic world, it is extremely important that we continue our efforts for a lasting and just solution to the Palestinian issue," Erdogan said in his address at the sixth meeting of the Türkiye-Kyrgyzstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Bishkek.

"Israel’s attacks on Lebanon now threaten regional security and the international order. During the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Shusha, we condemned the indiscriminate targeting of civilians in Gaza and called for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian aid," he added.

While Israel’s onslaught on Gaza and Lebanon continues, many states, including Türkiye, have called for implementation of the two-state solution to achieve enduring peace.

The Turkish president also highlighted Türkiye’s commitment to fighting terrorism in partnership with Kyrgyzstan, specifically against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which was behind the 2016 defeated coup in the country.

"Our fight against all forms of terrorism, especially FETO, will continue uninterruptedly," he said.

Earlier, Erdogan was welcomed by his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov with an official ceremony upon his arrival in Kyrgyzstan on Monday to attend the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States.

He celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Region, marking the foundation of the sovereign Kyrgyz Republic.

The president said a new agreement would elevate the bilateral strategic partnership to a comprehensive level, establishing a mechanism to deepen cooperation in security, transportation and health.

- Strengthening bilateral relations

Concluding the high-level council meeting, Erdogan said: "In our discussions today, we exchanged views on steps to further develop our relations. I believe the decisions we made and the goals we set will shape the future of our relations. I look forward to welcoming you to Ankara for the next council meeting."

"I hope that tomorrow’s 11th summit of the Organization of Turkic States and your term presidency will bring about auspicious results. I am confident that during your term, you will contribute to the proper representation of our observer member, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," he added.

An agreement-signing ceremony followed.

- Trade volume target of $5B

President Erdogan emphasized that he and Japarov agreed to set a new bilateral trade volume target of $5 billion, noting Türkiye's role as one of the largest investors in Kyrgyzstan.

"We are among the countries providing the most official development support. These are economic indicators of the importance we attribute to our ancestral homeland. Since 1992, TIKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) has implemented over 1,000 projects in Kyrgyzstan. The Turkish-Kyrgyz Friendship State Hospital, which we will inaugurate today, is among these projects. I am deeply honored that my name has been given to the hospital," he said.

- Educational cooperation and Manas University

Touching on educational cooperation, Erdogan urged swift completion of the educational cooperation agreement.

"Let’s swiftly finalize the negotiations on the educational cooperation agreement. I am pleased that Manas University has been ranked among the world's best universities. Let us continue to work harmoniously to maximize the university’s contribution to Kyrgyzstan’s human capital, as well as to science and the arts," the Turkish president said.