We strongly condemn, and find unacceptable, the false, fabricated and slanderous statements about Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, made by the President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, at a panel. It is appalling that a Head of State, who is expected to act responsibly, makes such accusations despite knowing that they are false.

Turkey, while maintaining its decisive fight against various terrorist organizations, contributes also to the security of Europe. Turkey gives an exemplary lesson for humanity, by hosting the largest number of asylum seekers in the world. Turkey has neutralised nearly 4.000 DAESH operatives in the Operation Euphrates Shield and in the operations conducted earlier with the Global Coalition. Thereby, Turkey stands as the country that caused the most destruction to this terrorist organization.

The responsibility of those occupying the highest level positions in their respective states, particularly during an era when xenophobia and Islamophobia are on the rise in Europe, is to direct the public on the basis of objective information and truth, instead of misleading it with slander and unfounded accusations.

It is also obvious that those slanders are not in line with our traditional friendly relations and alliance with the Czech Republic.