Government Communication Office

[Jay]

 

[Jay]

The podium microphone hissed faintly as Şebnem Bursalı stepped up, a manila folder tucked under her arm and a mug of coffee, black, no sugar, balanced on the lectern beside her notes. The wall behind her bore the seal of the Başbakanlık. The press pool, still getting used to her tempo, was half-standing, half-seated, shuffling through their pads and recorders.

She adjusted the microphone, glanced at her watch, and gave the room a brief, almost imperceptible smile.

“Good morning. Let’s get right to it,” she said. “The Prime Minister has been in office for...” she glanced deliberately at her watch “...five days and twenty-one hours, but who’s counting? Her priority is economic growth. That’s the through-line, the starting point, and, frankly, the finish line. Every policy decision she is making right now is focused on restarting the economy and pulling this country out of the depression.”

Pens were already scratching. “Now, you’ve all been reporting, sometimes accurately, that shipping through the Bosphorus has been closed for over a week. Today, we can confirm that the closure is over. This morning, Turkish Naval Forces conducted a major clearance operation in the straits, removing forty-eight naval mines.” She glanced down at her notes, then back up. “Forty-eight. Each one capable of sinking a cargo vessel, each one placed illegally during the coalition war by Russian forces.”

A reporter in the second row mouthed forty-eight? to a colleague.

“The Prime Minister extends her personal thanks to the men and women of the Turkish Navy for conducting this operation with both courage and precision. This was not a routine sweep. This was live ordnance, in an active shipping artery, cleared without the loss of a single life.” She let that hang for half a breath before continuing.

“Now, before anyone writes tomorrow’s headline, yes, we also thank the Russian government for their cooperation in providing the location of each mine. Their maps made this operation faster and safer.

This is a crucial step in restarting maritime trade through the straits. Cargo routes reopening means export revenue flowing, it means jobs in the ports, it means fewer ships stacking up in the Sea of Marmara waiting for clearance. And that, in turn, means money in our economy. Which, if you’ve been paying attention, is the Prime Minister’s entire mission right now: end the depression, rebuild growth, get the country moving.”

She closed her folder with a single, sharp motion.

“That’s the update. Let’s take questions.”

Hands shot up. Şebnem scanned the room. The first hand was swift. It belonged to Kemal Aydın.

“Ms. Bursalı,” he began crisply, “the clearance operation took over a week, during which shipping through the Bosphorus was halted. Why wasn’t the public consulted or even informed sooner about the closure? The economic consequences of such a delay are severe.”

“Kemal, thank you for the question. The decision to close the Bosphorus was made with national security and public safety paramount in mind. We understood that premature disclosure could have caused panic in the shipping and port communities, risking further economic disruption.”

She paused, letting the room absorb the nuance.

“The closure was not taken lightly, nor was it a decision made in isolation. Our naval command, in coordination with the Prime Minister’s office, managed the operation with the discretion required to mitigate risk. The safety of our people and vessels was the guiding principle.”

Next was Leyla Kara who raised her hand and was called upon.

“Ms. Bursalı, it’s been six days since the Prime Minister took office, yet many critics say the pace of economic reform is too slow to address the depression. What is the Başbakanlık’s response to accusations that this administration is moving too cautiously?”

Şebnem’s eyes narrowed as she responded, “Leyla, sustainable reform is not something we spawn out of thin air. That would be reckless. Quick fixes and populist spending can offer immediate relief but risk long-term fiscal ruin. The Prime Minister’s approach is deliberate precisely because the country’s economic foundations are fragile. We're focused on delivering sustainable growth and our focus on bringing the public deficit down from ninety-two billion to seventy-five is not something small.”

She tapped the folder once. “We are rebuilding confidence through structural change, not headline-grabbing gestures. That takes time, patience, and a clear-eyed commitment to discipline.”

A sharp voice from the back called out.

“Şebnem, with respect, how long has the government known about the mines left by Russian forces? Could this clearance have been done sooner? And isn’t this operation just a costly use of taxpayer money?”

Şebnem’s expression tightened. “Previous governments have been monitoring maritime threats in the straits continuously since the coalition war. Unfortunately, no action was taken, and the risk of a loose mine continued to grow. The mines’ existence was a known hazard. The Prime Minister was briefed when she took office and ordered clearance plans be drawn up as soon as possible. However, clearance had to be planned with precision and safety foremost."


She leaned forward, "to characterize the protection of our shipping lanes as wasteful is to misunderstand the stakes. Every day those mines remained was a day of heightened risk, to vessels, to commerce, to lives. This operation was an investment in security and economic continuity, not an expense to be lamented.”

“Will Türkiye seek to recover the costs of the mine clearance operation from Russia, given their role in placing these hazards illegally?”

Şebnem gave a slight nod, “The Prime Minister’s office has made it clear that all diplomatic and legal avenues will be pursued to hold responsible parties accountable. Cooperation from the Russian government on mine location was a positive step, and Türkiye expects that this will be matched by recognition of liability for costs incurred.”

She straightened.

“The Başbakanlık’s priority remains, first and foremost, restoring safety and economic normalcy. Our goal right now is to deliver on those priorities."

The room buzzed with energy as more hands queued to ask questions. Şebnem smiled again, this time, just slightly. “Thank you all. We appreciate your diligence. The Başbakanlık will continue to keep you informed as this administration charts its course forward.” With that, she stepped down, the soft hum of conversation rising behind her like continued as she left the press briefing room.