President Erdoğan at ECO Summit in Hankendi: “A City Freed from Occupation Gains New Meaning”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a comprehensive speech at the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), hosted this year in Hankendi—a city recently liberated by Azerbaijan. The summit brought together leaders from across the region to deepen economic ties and address pressing geopolitical issues.
“Hankendi Will Become a New Hub of Development and Peace in the Caucasus”
President Erdoğan opened his remarks by thanking Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for hosting the summit in Hankendi. “Holding our meeting in a city liberated from occupation adds special meaning and significance to this summit,” Erdoğan said. “With my brother Ilham’s visionary leadership, I sincerely believe this ancient city will become a new hub of development and peace in the Caucasus.”
“We Must Raise the $100 Billion Trade Goal Even Higher”
Focusing on ECO’s core mission of economic cooperation, Erdoğan called for an expansion of the organization’s economic vision. “We must take collective steps to elevate our $100 billion regional trade volume to even higher levels,” he stated. He emphasized the importance of convening the 5th Meeting of ECO Trade Ministers at the earliest opportunity to foster further collaboration.
Erdoğan also underlined the need to streamline ECO’s institutional structure, aligning it with modern-day realities to improve operational efficiency and impact.
“Congratulations on Shusha Becoming the Tourism Capital for 2026”
In the field of tourism, Erdoğan highlighted ongoing regional initiatives and extended his congratulations to Azerbaijan on the selection of Shusha as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026. He expressed confidence that decisions made during the 2025 ECO Tourism Capital term in Erzurum would serve as a guide for the future.
“We Must Speak the Truth Boldly and Stand Firm with the Oppressed”
Turning to global and regional challenges, President Erdoğan strongly condemned Israel’s aggressive policies. “The Israeli government’s actions are threatening peace and stability in our region,” he said. “We must work harder to stop the ongoing massacre in Gaza, where nearly 57,000 of our brothers and sisters have been killed.”
He reiterated Türkiye’s opposition to attacks on Iran and warned against the region being dragged into a wider catastrophe. “We hope the current de facto ceasefire can turn into lasting calm,” he said.
“We Will Never Abandon the Palestinian Cause”
Reaffirming Türkiye’s stance, Erdoğan said: “We will never abandon the Palestinian cause, nor remain silent as the Netanyahu administration turns our region into a pool of blood.” He pledged that Türkiye will continue to “speak the truth with courage and stand tall with the oppressed.”
“Support for Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Is Vital”
On Syria, Erdoğan described recent developments as a potential beacon of hope and called on the international community to maintain both financial support and diplomatic engagement with the emerging political process. He also underscored the importance of supporting Afghanistan’s stability and prosperity, and extended condolences to Pakistan over the recent terrorist attack.
“Let Us Strengthen Our Solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots”
President Erdoğan concluded by highlighting the significance of solidarity within ECO, especially with observer member the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). “I warmly greet my dear brother, President Ersin Tatar, who joins us today,” he said. “I believe our organization will continue to support the Turkish Cypriots, who have endured unjust isolation for decades.”
He called on ECO member states to deepen their relations with the TRNC in areas such as sports, culture, tourism, and the economy.
