The Migration Management Model of Türkiye in the Century of Türkiye Program was held with the the presence of our Mr. President of the Republic
29.04.2025
With the attendance of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the participation of our Minister of Interior, Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, the "Migration Management Model of Turkey in the Century of Türkiye" Program was held.
The program was held at the Atatürk Cultural Center in Istanbul, was attended by our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Interior Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, along with Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Mersin Governor Atilla Toros, AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Director General of Migration Management Hüseyin Kök, members of parliament, bureaucrats, academics, experts in the field, and a large number of students.
"Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and our Minister of Interior, Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, made a speech at the Migration Management Model of Turkey in the Century of Türkiye Program."
“There are more than 281 million migrants worldwide. The number of migrant workers exceeds 165 million.”
"I am pleased to be here with you on the occasion of the ‘Turkey’s Migration Management Model in the Century of Türkiye’ program. I wish the event great success and thank all bureaucrats, academics, and experts for their contributions. I also congratulate our Interior Minister and his team for coordinating this important event."
Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, pointed out that every year, millions of people are forced to leave their homelands due to the hardships caused by war, instability, terrorism, poverty, and climate change. President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows:
"According to data from the International Organization for Migration of the United Nations, there are currently more than 281 million migrants around the world. The number of migrant workers exceeds 165 million. Due to the impact of wars in the last 3–4 years, the number of refugees has approached to120 million. The data also shows that every minute, at least 20 people are forced to migrate because of conflict, persecution, and terrorism. Today, 3.6% of the world's population is trying to survive as migrants. Unfortunately, as wars continue, crises remain unresolved, and the effects of climate change deepen, these figures are steadily increasing. During this process, we are often faced with scenes that deeply shake us all as human beings. Almost every day, we hear about tragedies, accidents, and disasters resulting in the death of those embarking on journeys of hope. In the past 10 years, more than 72,000 people have lost their lives along migration routes."
"Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reminded that the whereabouts and fate of thousands of children who fled the conflict in Syria and sought refuge in Europe still remain unknown, and continued as follows:"
"The lives of countless innocent people have been snuffed out in the bloody clutches of criminal organizations, including organ and prostitution mafias, and human traffickers. At this point, I must point out a contradiction: Although it is mostly the policies of Western powers that force people to migrate, when it comes to sharing the burden, none of them are to be seen. Out of every 100 refugees in the world, 75 are hosted by low- and middle-income countries, not rich countries. As you know, the overwhelming majority of those who fled the oppression in Syria took refuge in neighboring countries. Likewise, a significant portion of the 11 million Sudanese displaced by civil war migrated to neighboring states. From the massacres in Myanmar to the civil wars in Central Africa, we see the same picture everywhere. In other words, countries with limited means are bearing burdens far beyond their capacities, while Western countries either protest loudly or use the acceptance of a few hundred refugees as a public relations tool to showcase their so-called humanitarianism."
“Anatolia Has Always Been a Refuge for Migrants”
Pointing out that Türkiye is located at the crossroads of three continents, our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated: “Just as it has been for centuries, today we continue to serve as a hub of power between East and West, North and South. As a result, we are directly affected by the instability in our surrounding regions. Although we have been confronting the issue of migration and migrants more intensely in recent years, this is not a new phenomenon for us. Anatolia has always been a land of migrants throughout history .”
Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, continued as follows: “All the oppressed who have faced persecution, oppression, and violence in their homelands have always seen Anatolia, the land of Türkiye, as a safe haven. From Jews fleeing the Inquisition to Christians in Eastern Europe, from our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Caucasus and the Balkans to those escaping Nazi persecution — all of them knocked on the doors of our country and our nation. Even today, whoever finds themselves in hardship in our region, thanks be to God, turns first to Türkiye as a land of refuge. Let me be clear: we do not complain about this, nor do we feel burdened by it. On the contrary, we regard rushing to the aid of the oppressed and extending a hand to those in need as both a neighborly and human duty. At this point, I would also like to clarify an issue frequently exploited by the opposition using exaggerated figures. The number of migrants in our country is by no means what the opposition — especially certain fascist and inhumane circles — claim it to be, nor has it ever been.”
Sharing information about the number of migrants in Türkiye, our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “Currently, there are a total of 4,033,000 migrants in Turkey — 2,768,000 of them are our Syrian brothers and sisters under temporary protection, 1,090,000 are residing with residence permits, and 176,000 are under international protection. Thanks to the measures we have taken, this number is decreasing day by day.”
“We are hosting around 340,000 international students from over 190 countries around the world.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated the following: “As a strategic element of our public diplomacy, we encourage international students to pursue their education in our country. Within this scope, we are currently hosting around 340,000 guest students from more than 190 countries around the world. Contrary to some claims, the overwhelming majority of these students are not on scholarships, but rather cover all their own expenses while studying in Turkey. The fact that Turkey’s alumni serve as ministers, bureaucrats, businesspeople, and politicians in many countries clearly demonstrates the importance of this project.”
“14,400 Operations Conducted Against Human Smugglers”
Emphasizing that they have not neglected the fight against illegal migration and human smuggling, our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated: “In the past two years, the entry of 270,000 irregular migrants into our borders has been prevented. A total of 263,000 individuals residing illegally in our country have been deported. Meanwhile, 14,400 operations have been carried out against human smugglers; 9,867 vehicles were confiscated, and 23,780 individuals were taken into custody.”
“The government's policy on migration and migrants is very distinct.”
Emphasizing that the government’s policy on migration and migrants is evident, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated: "We view the migration issue through the lens of our thousand-year-old civilization, history, and the ancient values that define us. We strive to be worthy of our ancestors who said, ‘I would give my throne, I would give my crown, but I would never give away the oppressed who seek refuge in my state.’ Regarding migration, we are starting to see the positive outcomes of the humanitarian and conscientious stance we have maintained consistently for years. The 13.5 years of oppression and conflict in Syria came to an end on December 8. The Assad regime, which caused the deaths of 1 million people and displaced 13 million, was overthrown, and a new government representing the freedom of the Syrian people came to power. Now, with the support of us and other brotherly countries in the region, this government is working to rebuild war-torn Syria. Despite various challenges, obstacles, and sabotage, Syria is slowly recovering. As Syria recovers and as the stability and security in the country strengthen, the number of returnees has started to increase."
"The number of people returning from Türkiye to Syria has reached 200,000."
"President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stating that the number of people returning from Türkiye to Syria has reached 200,000 since December 9, also mentioned that the total number of those who have voluntarily, safely, and honorably returned to their homeland has reached 931,450. President Erdoğan further stated that a similar situation is occurring in other neighboring countries, particularly Jordan and Lebanon."
"Referring to the film 'Love Knows No Borders,' which tells the story of a child named Muhammed Eymen, who fled the war in Syria in 2011 and sought refuge in Turkey, and then returned to his country after the war ended, as part of the 'Turkey's Migration Management Model in the Turkish Century' program, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:"
"We just watched together the affecting story of our Syrian child, Muhammed, whose story has touched our hearts. We thank Allah thousands of times. As Türkiye, we are proud to have passed successfully one of the greatest tests of humanity of the last century.Because, in the end, even in a matter where death and torture were present, we were subjected to harsh criticisms for 13.5 years. From those who talked about sending the oppressed in our country to death by putting them in buses during the days when the massacres were continuing in all their brutality, to the racist posters being pasted here and there during the 14-28 May elections, the cowardly provocations in Ankara and Kayseri, and the xenophobia fueled before every election, we have gone through many difficult trials. They tried everything to put our government in a difficult situation. Many people who talk big when it comes to words, but for the sake of preserving their political interests, did not speak up against the hate speech of the opposition. They remained silent, watched, and did not utter a single word. But despite all these trials, as a government, we have never ceased to do what is appropriate for us, what suits our faith and humanity."
“We will not allow hate speech, lumpen fascism, racist vandalism, and provocations.”
"Expressing that 'We will not allow this nation to experience another disgrace like the Boraltan Bridge Tragedy,' President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, 'We have remained true to this promise, taking every risk, and thank God, for 13.5 years. Türkiye, with the touching words of the late Fethi Gemuhluoğlu, has become the country of 'friends who wipe away tears without letting the eye notice,' despite all provocations, in our era. God willing, we will not allow any stain to be cast on this impeccable record of ours from now on.'"
"Emphasizing that they will not allow hate speech, lumpen fascism, racist vandalism, and provocations, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, 'We are determined not to allow inhumane behaviors such as the 'maltreatment of migrants,' which we often witness in Western countries. If, for any reason, someone steps outside the boundaries of law, humanitarian values, and our fundamental migration policies during this process, we will take the necessary actions and will not hesitate to make those responsible face the consequences.'"
"Owing to the increasing mobility, reducing the issue of migration and migrants solely to a security context would be an incomplete approach. The migration issue, which brings together different lives and stories, has always been one of the most effective means of cultural interaction. Migration is a new meeting; it is the coming together of people with different ethnic identities, religions, languages, cultures, lifestyles, and understandings on the same ground. We cannot ignore the positive effects of this meeting in every field, from the economy to trade, from culture to science. Here, I would like to express my sorrow: Due to the fear climate stirred by fascist circles, the contributions of migrants to the Turkish economy have, unfortunately, not been discussed healthily in our country. Those who think differently, who try to present the full picture, both pros and cons, have been silenced, intimidated, and turned into targets. Our business community, too, has refrained from speaking out publicly, as they feared being lynched, despite what they have told us behind closed doors."
"We will not compromise on security and the protection of our demographic structure."
"President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted the importance of human capital for Türkiye's development and achieving its goals, saying:
"Countries that are developing or aiming to develop are not just focusing on security regarding the migration issue. On the contrary, they approach this matter in a multi-dimensional way and adopt more positive policies. As a society, we also need to discuss these issues more objectively, calmly, and without prejudice. We must implement more rational policies regarding our brothers and sisters who have integrated into our society, contribute to our economy, and add value across sectors such as industry, agriculture, and services. Otherwise, we will face difficulties in achieving our economic goals. I repeat, we will not compromise on our country's security or the protection of our demographic structure. However, we will not allow a handful of racist and lumpen figures to condemn Turkey to the fear-mongering hate speech they continuously spread."
“I congratulate the 12th anniversary of the establishment of our Directorate General of Migration Management.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, emphasizing that they will strive to manage human mobility in a way that brings maximum benefit to Türkiye and the Turkish economy, concluded his speech with the following words:
"President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continued by stating:
""As we continue the current efforts of the Directorate General of Migration Management, I believe that Türkiye must also present a long-term perspective in this matter, in line with the country’s needs and interests. We must renew our paradigm in response to changing conditions and needs. Breaking prejudices, protecting our youth from xenophobic currents, and informing our people correctly are also tasks that fall upon you. We have seen and experienced many times who fills the gaps we leave, and how they poison our youth; we have had to bear the political and social costs of it. In the coming period, I expect even greater efforts from our Migration Administration in this regard. With these thoughts, I wish the ""Migration Management Model in the Turkish Century"" program to be a means of good. I congratulate the Directorate General of Migration Management on its 12th anniversary. I thank our panelists in advance and greet you all with respect once again.""
Türkiye Yüzyılı’nda Türkiye’nin Göç Yönetimi Modeli Programı’nın hayırlara vesile olmasını diliyorum.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) April 28, 2025
Panele iştirak eden tüm bürokratlarımıza, akademisyenlerimize ve alanında uzman isimlere katkılarından dolayı teşekkür ediyorum. pic.twitter.com/t5Ak8W7hvn
Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın teşrifleri ve İçişleri Bakanımız Sayın Ali Yerlikaya’nın katılımı ile “Türkiye Yüzyılı’nda Türkiye'nin Göç Yönetimi Modeli”Programını düzenledik.
— Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı (@Gocidaresi) April 29, 2025
Göç İdaresi Başkanlığımızın 12. kuruluş yıl dönümünü tebrik eden Cumhurbaşkanımız… pic.twitter.com/ZrYctcCorH
Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "Türkiye Yüzyılı'nda Türkiye'nin Göç Yönetimi Modeli" programında; gönüllü, güvenli, onurlu ve düzenli bir şekilde ülkelerine dönen Suriyelilerin sayısını açıkladı:
— Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı (@Gocidaresi) April 30, 2025
📌9 Aralık'tan bu yana ülkelerine dönen Suriyeli sayısı 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ bin,… pic.twitter.com/rgtO7lGqD4
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