President Erdoğan performs Friday prayer at Hz. Ali Mosque in Istanbul

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan performed Friday prayer at Hz. Ali Mosque in Istanbul.

President Erdoğan answered reporters’ questions after the prayer.

FOREST FIRES

With regard to the ongoing forest fires in Karabük, Antalya and Uşak, President Erdoğan said: “Efforts are underway to put out the fires with 27 aircraft and 105 helicopters. 6 thousand land vehicles and 25 thousand personnel are taking part in these efforts. As you know, we have martyrs. 10 of our martyrs were laid to rest, and one of them will be buried today in Konya. May Allah have mercy on our martyrs’ souls.”

Highlighting the magnitude of the disaster the country is faced with, President Erdoğan said: “Our firefighters fought heroically, but they were trapped inside a ring of fire and they could not get out of it.”

RUSSIA-UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS

With regard to the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul yesterday, President Erdoğan said: “As you know, the last meeting took place at the Çırağan. My foreign minister, on my behalf, conducted the meeting at the Çırağan. Meanwhile, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations got together and held talks. The Ukrainian delegation, before heading to the Çırağan, met with us in Ankara. I received and talked with them. In the meanwhile, I also had a call with President Vladimir Putin. During the call, I asked for his support. By holding talks with President Putin and President Trump in the period ahead, maybe next week, we will strive to see if we can bring these leaders (Putin and Zelenskyy) together in Istanbul.”