Ankara, Aug. 2 (SANA)Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogansaid Saturday that his government is working to remove what he described as the obstacle of terrorism and prepare Türkiye for the future in an atmosphere of brotherhood, unity and peace, reaffirming its commitment to the “Terror-Free Türkiye“initiative.

Speaking at a consultative council meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Istanbul, Erdogan said, according to Anadolu Agency, that the People’s Alliance had launched an important process to address the terrorism issue and that the initiative had progressed “without any setbacks” so far.

Erdogan said terrorism had imposed a heavy burden on the country over nearly four decades, claiming that it had claimed tens of thousands of lives and cost the Turkish economy more than $2.3 trillion. He expressed confidence that the AK Party and the People’s Alliance, with the support of political institutions, would achieve a lasting solution.

He acknowledged that the government was aware of potential challenges facing the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, including attempts to obstruct or undermine the process, adding that the initiative could gain further momentum once draft legislative amendments, whose preparations have been completed, are submitted to the Turkish parliament.

The Turkish president criticized opposition parties, saying their internal disputes were at odds with the government’s priorities, adding that while his administration sought to shield Türkiye from regional conflicts, the opposition remained preoccupied with political disagreements.

Erdogan said theDevelopment Road Project,designed to connect the Gulf with Europe through Turkish territory, remains one of his government’s top priorities. He described the project as a cornerstone for expanding regional economic cooperation and opening new opportunities for trade and transport.

The project envisions the construction of a1,200-kilometer land corridor and railway linking Iraq’s Grand Faw Port in southern Iraq with Türkiye’s transport network and onward toEurope, with the aim of reducing cargo transit times between Asia and Europe and strengthening regional economic integration.

Earlier this week, Erdogan said Türkiye was working to turn its vision of a “terror-free region” into reality and promote development, prosperity, peace and stability instead of conflict.