Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the opening of the "Meeting of Civilizations" conference in Hatay this weekend, said "We must say 'yes' to an allying of civilizations and 'no' to their clashing." The PM went on to say "If there is terror in the world, it is carried out not under the order of religion, but as a result of ignorant interpretations of religion. There is no religion which can allow for the killing of people."

Erdogan also spoke out against the placement of any religion's title preceding the word "terror." Said the PM, "Just as we cannot accept the phrase "Islamic terror," neither can we accept the phrases 'Christian terror' or 'Jewish terror.' " Attesting that it was possible for different religions and civilizations to coexist in peace, Erdogan said "There is union in numbers, and strength in unity. The time to listen to eachother and understand eachother has come. We must not give in to the cultures of clashes and violence. We must strive to accent our shared aspects rather than our differences, and we must place the value of humanity above all."