Prime MInister Tayyip Erdoğan first met with Ahmadinejad during a five-member summit and then later uttered these remarks while looking directly at the Iranian President who sat across from him.

While requesting the memorandum to be released following the summit, include a condemnation of both Israel and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Erdoğan also delivered an indirect criticism to Egypt which has not refrained from containing its sensitivities on condemning Israel. "No single country can maintain stability and economic development on its own in a region of wars, conflicts, terrorism and disputes," stated Erdoğan. The D-8 Summit led by Pakistan who was handed over the duty from Nigeria, will be hosted by Turkey in 2014.

Speaking at the closing session, Erdoğan emphasized the importance of the development of democracy alongside economic growth for the Developing Eight nations, while also drawing on the definition of being Muslim by stating, "Furthermore, we are Muslims. First and foremost we share responsibility towards one another as brothers before we fulfill our own personal expectations, that of our offices and of diplomacy. No one and no country has the right to remain a bystander to the bloodshed in the region and to support further innocent blood to be spilt solely for their own benefit."
During his D-8 Summit address, Erdoğan stated the following:

CIVIL WARS MUST COME TO AN END

We must conduct our economy and diplomacy hand in hand. The internal strife and conflicts that have threatened our region in recent years also draws our economic performance down. I am inviting D-8 countries to take a more effective stance against issues that threaten peace and prosperity for all countries in the region.

It is obvious that the global crisis the world is currently experiencing is the result of limitless consumption. It is inevitable that crises like these will transpire in a system where the concept of conviction has been replaced by that of greed. Every nation in the world needs to review their economic understanding based on consumption, greed and self-interest. I believe that as the D-8, with a population of nearly one billion, we could assume a pioneering role in shaping and adopting this new perception," stated Erdoğan.

GAZA IS NOT FORGOTTEN

During the summit; Iranian President Ahmadinejad lashed out against the assault on Gaza and called for a new world order based on justice and humanity.

"I COULD GO TO GAZA AT ANY MOMENT"

Speaking to reporters on the plane during his return from Pakistan, Prime Minister Erdoğan stated that Turkey, Egypt and Qatar have exerted the most effective policies when it comes to the Gaza crisis. Pointing out that the United States should be aware of Turkey's sensitivities to the issue, Prime Minister Erdoğan said, "If this is not noticed it would be a disgrace." Underlying the strategic partnership shared with the U.S., Prime Minister Erdoğan stated, "It wasn't Tayyip Erdoğan who participated in an aid campaign against Obama, it was Netanyahu. We are expecting a more fair approach from Obama in his term," stated Erdoğan.

When asked if there was any possibility he would pay a visit to Gaza, Erdoğan stated, "I could go to at any moment." Expressing his belief that Hamas will not break the ceasefire so long as Israel does the same, Prime Minister Erdoğan reminded of the hospital built by Turkey in Gaza by stating, "One day will come when they bomb that hospital too."

In response to the United States' stance on Syria, Prime Minister Erdoğan stated, "Up until now, the United States or the United Nations has yet to put forth a mature stance on the issue. The Islamic world must take matters into their own hands when it comes to this issue, we cannot remain with our hands tied. The steps needed to be taken will be when the time comes."

This is a translation of an article originally written by Duygu Güvenç and Serdar Canipek.