President Erdoğan: Every action ısrael has taken since 1967 is illegal and against UN resolutions
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference in Istanbul before departing for Russia.
“I will pay a visit to Moscow for the 8. Meeting of the Turkey-Russia High Level Cooperation Council,” President Erdoğan said, pointing to the strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
“WE WILL DISCUSS REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES, SYRIA IN PARTICULAR”
“This will be my 3rd face to face meeting with Mr. Putin since the new year started. And during our visit, we will review our bilateral relations and discuss regional and global issues, Syria in particular,” President Erdoğan said.
“The relations between Turkey and Russia continue to improve in all areas from trade to tourism, from energy to culture. Our bilateral trade volume has risen by 15 percent last year and reached $26 billion. I believe we have much greater potential than that,” President Erdoğan noted.
“WE WILL MEET WITH TURKISH AND RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN”
Stating that he, along with Russian President Putin, will meet with Turkish and Russian businessmen, President Erdoğan highlighted visa-free travel as an important topic on their agenda.
Noting that the visit will also mark the start of the 2019 Culture and Tourism Year, mutually declared by Turkey and the Russian Federation, with Ankara State Opera and Ballet’s performance of Troy Opera at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, President Erdoğan said: “Culture and arts events will reciprocally continue throughout the year.”
President Erdoğan also answered reporters’ questions following his remarks.
“ALL PREPARATIONS ARE DONE”
In answer to a question about a possible operation against terrorist organization, President Erdoğan said: “All preparations are done along our borders. We are all set. We may come where we need to come one night all of a sudden. We will discuss this issue during our trip, especially during our tete-a-tete.”
“EVERY ACTION ISRAEL HAS TAKEN SINCE 1967 IS ILLEGAL AND AGAINST UN RESOLUTIONS”
On Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks on annexing the illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank to Israel, President Erdoğan said: “Every action of Netanyahu is against international law.”
Underscoring that every action Israel has taken since 1967 is illegal and against UN resolutions, President Erdoğan said: “They have taken such steps with the U.S. support. The U.S. led the way in the steps they took regarding the capital issue. Not many followed the U.S.’s footsteps, which is another issue. A few countries followed suit upon the U.S. imposition. We see the same thing in the step taken with regard to the Golan Heights and not the West Bank.”
Underlining that the step which will bring dark days to the Middle East is unacceptable, President Erdoğan said: “The West Bank is absolutely Palestinian territory. This will only be another step of occupation by Israel on Palestinian territory. We will continue to stand with the Palestinians on this issue.”
In answer to a question regarding the objections to the recent local election results, President Erdoğan said: “As I said the election process is over. It is now a judicial process. And in this process, the Supreme Election Council is in charge.”
