Turkey will emerge as the older brother of all the Turkic and Islamic countries

Turkey will emerge as the older brother of all the Turkic and Islamic countries

(Press conference during ifthar in Çırağan Palace, September 18^th, 2008)

REPORTER: May I ask another question? There are two axes in the Middle East for which the general Turkish-Islamic Union project is thought to be necessary, one being Iran and the other Saudi Arabia. There would seem to be Iran, Iraq, Syria with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine facing a block consisting of Saudi Arabia with Jordan and Egypt with relative support from Western states. Where should Turkey stand on this and how can it lead such a region?

ADNAN OKTAR: When Turkey acts as older brother there will be nobody in the region that refuses to accept it. Not among the Shiites, the Jaferis, the Saudis or the Iranians. For instance, when Iranian President Ahmadinejad came here he performed the namaz in a Sunni mosque behind a Sunni imam. What does that mean? It means, if you are the leader I will accept that. That is clear. He said, I have sent a clear message here. I have given an important political message, he said. What more need he say? Hezbollah will agree, everyone will agree. Nobody in the region will reject Turkish leadership. Because Turkey is a very moderate, lovable and reasonable country. Its people are respectful and well-mannered, very cultured and polite. And, as you know, it is a country that served as leader for many years. It has experience from Ottoman times. Turkey will emerge as the older brother of all the Turkic and Islamic countries. Everyone will see that. I am stating it here and will again put my name to these words in 10 years’ time. Insha’Allah.