14.08.2013

PRESS RELEASE ON INCIDENTS IN EGYPT

We are utterly dismayed by the fact that hundreds of people currently lost their lives

and thousands others were injured as a result of the bloody intervention which was

launched this morning by the security forces against the civilian and peaceful

demonstrators in Egypt. We wish God's mercy upon the Egyptians who lost their

lives and a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are deeply concerned about the

possibility of further increase in the number of deaths.

We strongly condemn that the Egyptian administration has once again resorted to

violence against the peaceful demonstrations despite all warnings. Opening fire

upon the civilian people who have never been involved in violent incidents and

targeting those civilians by snipers constitute a heavy crime. The incumbent

administration which intervened in the democratic and civilian regime through a coup

d’etat is responsible for the loss of lives of the brotherly Egyptian people since the

30th of June.

It is obvious that this intervention, which led to the loss of lives, has caused major

damage to the domestic peace and tranquility of the brotherly Egypt just as the

previous ones. Opening fire on the masses which claimed democracy and kept their

peaceful attitude from the outset, has harmed the conscious of humanity and

caused a huge outrage.

The bloody intervention of the Egyptian security forces against civilian and peaceful

demonstrators has dealt a great blow to hopes for Egypt to return to democracy

through an inclusive transition process. This intervention clearly reveals the stance

of the current administration regarding the transition to democracy in Egypt with the

participation of all parties. We find this situation extremely worrying for the peace

and tranquility of the brotherly Egyptian people.

It is clearly observed that international community’s support to the coup and its

reticence on the previous massacres, rather than protecting the democracy and

constitutional legitimacy in Egypt have encouraged the existing administration on

today’s intervention. The international community, primarily the UN Security Council

and the Arab League should take immediate action to stop this massacre.

The warnings and calls by Turkey in this regard are for the peace and serenity of all

the Egyptian people. In this framework, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey,

H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had talks with the Secretary-General of the UN,

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and the permanent members of the UN Security Council in

the past days and called upon them to start a democratic process in Egypt and to

stand together against a possible massacre. As until now, Turkey will continue these

initiatives.

We call on the Egyptian interim administration to end the bloody actions against its

own people, to conduct a credible and transparent judicial investigation against the

ones who committed the massacres since 30 June 2013, to release the political

detainees and Mohammed Morsy in particular and to launch a genuine and

comprehensive transition process.

Turkey will continue to extend all kind of support in order for the brotherly Egyptian

people to be saved from the current chaos as soon as possible.