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Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Fuat Oktay stated that Türkiye serves as a trusted mediator between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the country's role in facilitating peace talks in Istanbul.
Speaking to Turkish media outlet CNN Turk, Oktay emphasized Türkiye's unique position in the Russia-Ukraine war mediation efforts.
"There is a leader that both countries trust. There is a country they trust. It has a principled stance. Our desire is that the peace table reaches a certain point at the leaders' level," Oktay said.
He noted different approaches between the two countries regarding stopping the war: "We see two different approaches between the two countries on stopping the war."
Oktay outlined the contrasting positions of both sides in the conflict.
"Russia's approach is 'Withdraw your soldiers, stop the issue of receiving military aid from outside, let's provide a cease-fire here.' Ukraine's approach is, 'Let's first provide an unconditional ceasefire. Then let's discuss the terms of peace'," he explained.
"What we are trying to do as Türkiye is to try to reduce the difference as much as possible. We think and hope that we can bring them together at a common point," Oktay added.
Oktay described the terror-free Türkiye initiative as "a beautiful holiday gift to our nation."
"We wanted to enter with a beautiful holiday gift to our nation. We hope that in a terror-free Türkiye, we will strengthen both our internal front and strengthen unity, solidarity, and cooperation in our own region," Oktay stated.
He expressed confidence in the government's determination: "The state is extremely determined on this issue right now. We desire that weapons be laid down as soon as possible, and we build a Türkiye without a terrorist threat."
Oktay outlined Türkiye's vision for the broader Middle East region.
"We will present an exemplary model that solves its own problem and provides its security, both in the region and throughout Türkiye—I mean the entire Middle East. I believe we will succeed in this," he said.
"We want to build a Türkiye where weapons are laid down as soon as possible and there is no terrorist threat."
Addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Oktay criticized Israel's actions and the blocking of humanitarian aid.
"There is no holiday in Gaza right now. However, when Israel silences its weapons, when they can receive humanitarian and medical aid and return to their homes, the holiday will begin," Oktay said.
He described the situation as systematic: "The system works like this: starve them, then gather them in certain centers under the name of humanitarian aid."
Oktay expressed Türkiye's frustration with the inability to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza residents.
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