CHP Chairperson and Presidential Candidate of the Nation Alliance Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: Asylum Seekers. Illegals

Nation Alliance Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu published a new video on his Twitter account today. Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Asylum seekers. Fugitives" and said the following in the video:

"The issue of asylum seekers will never be carried to a racist ground. The problem is not a problem of race. Our asylum seeker problem is fundamentally a resource problem... It must be said that Turkey must draw a completely different vision for the wider Mediterranean Basin and Europe. The Mediterranean Basin is a region experiencing the most severe climate crisis. This basin is warming 20 per cent more than the rest of the world. We are talking about 500 million people sharing the same ecosystem. Therefore, we have to lead the countries of the Mediterranean Basin. We must read the problem of asylum seekers and fugitives as part of this big problem. Then, we will sit together and solve this problem."

"OUR REFUGEE PROBLEM IS A RESOURCE PROBLEM"

"My dear people, the election is very close. I am here for the last time to tell you that we will solve this issue. The issue of asylum seekers will never be taken to the racist ground. The problem is not a race problem anyway. Our refugee problem is a resource problem. I am not to frighten anyone, but I need to speak clearly. All analyses show that if we do not take measures, the Euphrates and Tigris will risk drying up in the next 20 years. This situation not only means that agriculture in the South East Region of Turkey will suffer, but our hydroelectric power plants will also lose their function, and we will also experience a severe thirst. It means more than 60 million people in Turkey and our southern neighbours, Syria and Iraq, will face famine and thirst. If we do not take measures, hungry refugees from Syria and Iraq will flock to Turkey.

"THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO LEAD THE COUNTRIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN. WE MUST CONSIDER THE PROBLEM OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AND FUGITIVES AS A PART OF THIS BIG ISSUE"

Turkey's water, energy and infrastructure need to be in a position to meet the needs of its own people. On top of all these, our country can no longer bear such a burden. It is not possible. We have to solve this. If Turkey loses its own infrastructure and water, Europe has to realise that we cannot even keep the citizens of Turkey, let alone harbour these asylum seekers and fugitives. The European Union has to get out of the mindset that I gave a bribe and got away with it. Turkey must draw a completely different vision for the wider Mediterranean Basin and Europe. The Mediterranean Basin is a region experiencing the most severe climate crisis. This basin is warming 20 per cent more than the rest of the world. We are talking about 500 million people sharing the same ecosystem. Therefore, we have to lead the countries of the Mediterranean Basin. We must consider the problem of asylum seekers and fugitives as part of this big problem. We will sit together and solve this problem. First, we will work together as Turkey, the European Union and the countries of the Mediterranean region to reunite Syrians with their homeland within two years at the latest. We will negotiate with the Syrian administration. We will make a protocol with the legitimate government to secure the life and property of those who leave here. The European Union and the United Nations will be included in this protocol.

"I APPEAL TO THE EUROPEAN UNION; I APPEAL TO THE COUNTRIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN; EITHER WE WILL LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER, TO COOPERATE, OR WE WILL ALL PERISH TOGETHER"

Turkish contractors will build the houses, schools, roads and kindergartens of the asylum seekers going to Syria with the funds from this cooperation. Both our country and Syrians will win. But we will also increase Turkey's climate resilience with some of these funds. We have to do this; they have to be involved in this. Otherwise, neither Iraq nor Syria will remain. Everyone will be at the gates of Europe. Turkey cannot be a buffer zone for climate refugees. Turkey cannot stop its own people. Therefore, with this transformation, we will initiate and lead the Mediterranean Basin countries with our vision. We will solve this problem together with the European Union. Our climate resistance will increase, regional agriculture will be revitalised, trade will develop, and everyone will live in peace on their land. As I said, otherwise, there will be neither Syria, Iraq, nor the European Union. I am now addressing the European Union; I am addressing the countries of the Mediterranean Basin; either we will learn to work together, to cooperate, or we will all perish together. It is all in our hands."