ANTALYA, Türkiye, April 17. The Gulf countries’
access to the high seas must not be restricted, and freedom of
navigation must be guaranteed in accordance with international
rules, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at the opening
ceremony of the 5th Antalya Diplomatic Forum, Trend’s special correspondent
reports.
Erdoğan emphasized that ensuring freedom of navigation and
transit, as well as maintaining open routes for commercial shipping
in the region, must remain a key principle.
He noted that wars in neighboring regions are accelerating the
search for alternative energy and logistics routes to deliver
resources to international markets.
“As Türkiye, we are open to cooperation with our neighbors in
the fields of energy and connectivity, including within the
framework of strategic projects such as the ‘Development Path,’'
the president stated.
Furthermore, Erdoğan commented on the initiative for a 15-day
ceasefire, announced through the mediation of Pakistani Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing satisfaction with the agreement
reached.
The Turkish president noted that the “window of opportunity”
that has opened must be utilized as effectively as possible to
achieve lasting peace.
"Under no circumstances should dialogue be replaced by weapons,
nor negotiations by bloodshed. The shortest path to peace is
constructive dialogue and diplomacy," he emphasized.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also added that achieving peace requires
mutual concessions, patience, and common sense on the part of all
parties.
