Erdogan: Elimination Of Terrorism Realizes Development Map With Iraq

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of eliminating terrorist organizations to carry out the Development Roadmap project with Iraq.

"Of course, Turkey respects the integrity and sovereignty of the Iraqi region. We support Iraq's struggle against terrorism. What we hope from our brothers and sisters in Iraq is that they do not allow their state land to be used as a basis for terrorist acts against our country," President Erdogan said after a government meeting in the capital Ankara. reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 13.

Erdogan added that Turkey would not allow the establishment of a terrorist entity on its southern border in any way. He also stressed that the Turkish Foreign and Defense Ministers and the Intelligence Chief conveyed the sensitive position of their country regarding the eradication of terrorism to the Iraqi side.

"We will leave a safe and stable area where peace can be enforced, and where there is no terrorism, for our children who are outside our borders," he said.

The Development Roadmap project in question is a road and rail construction project that runs from Iraq to Turkey and its ports. The project started with the Al-Faw port in Basra Bay and consists of 1,200-kilometer road and train in Iraq that connects it with the Turkish railway network.

The investment budget for the project amounts to around 17 billion US dollars (Rp265.5 trillion) and will be completed in three stages. The first phase ends in 2028, the second stage in 2033, and the third stage in 2050.

Furthermore, the Turkish president stated that his country is located in a geographic area where war and conflict continue relentlessly, plus the uncertainty of the global economy due to the imbalances that hit the global security structure.

"A large number of developed and developing countries face serious threats represented by political instability and related social tensions. Despite all the negative impacts affecting the world, Turkey is moving forward with full determination to achieve its goals," he said.

Despite being in the midst of political and social instability, Erdogan announced that Turkey reached an extraordinary tourism season last year, with revenues exceeding 54 billion US dollars (Rp843 trillion) increasing 17 percent compared to 2022, and by 2024 Turkey is targeting to receive 60 million tourists and revenues worth 60 billion US dollars (Rp936.7 trillion).

Then for exports, Turkey set a record high in January compared to the same month in previous years, which amounted to 20 billion US dollars (Rp312.2 trillion).

Through increased confidence of foreign investors in Turkey's economy, increased investment in Turkish lira, and a decline in Turkey's risk index, Erdogan believes that his country's economy will show positive performance, especially in inflation.