President Erdoğan goes to the U.S.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made remarks at Esenboğa Airport in Ankara before leaving for the United States to pay a working visit at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“TURKEY HAS TAKEN SEVERAL STEPS FOR THE EXTRADITION OF THE TERRORIST LEADER IN PENNSYLVANIA”
Noting that the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) will be high on their agenda during the visit, President Erdoğan said: “Turkey has taken several steps for the extradition of the terrorist leader in Pennsylvania, and we will continue to do so. We are determined to pursue them until all putschists are held to account before the court.”
“WE HAVE BEGUN TO REPATRIATE DAESH MEMBERS”
“We will also discuss our bilateral relations and Syria in detail. We will address the issue of cooperation in the fight against terrorist organizations, including DAESH, PKK/YPG,” President Erdoğan said.
“We will once again raise the prices Turkey has paid and its determination in the fight against DAESH,” President Erdoğan noted. “We have begun to repatriate DAESH members. And a process of panic have kicked in at those places. It was us who have been worrying so far. Now, let them worry and decide what to do.”
“WE WILL SHOW WITH DOCUMENTS THAT FERHAT ABDI ŞAHIN IS A TERRORIST”
“We will also discuss the latest situation in Operation Peace Spring. And we will convey that the U.S. must approach and treat the YPG/PYD terrorist organization just like DAESH and other terrorist organizations,” President Erdoğan said.
“We will show with documents what a murderer and terrorist Ferhat Abdi Şahin is and that it is wrong to receive and talk to such a terrorist. We will convey all the terrorist attack that terrorist leader has committed so far in Turkey with pictures and documents,” President Erdoğan underscored.
“We will also note that the agreement reached with the U.S. within the framework of Operation Peace Spring has not been fully fulfilled,” President Erdoğan stated.
“WE WOULD LIKE TO USHER IN A NEW ERA ON MATTERS OF SECURITY”
“We will see what we can do in order to prevent the increasing negative views on Turkey in the U.S.,” President Erdoğan said, and underlined that the fight against terror will be the top priority during his talks with U.S. President Trump. “We would like to usher in a new era on matters that concern the security of our two countries.”
President Erdoğan also answered reporters’ questions following his remarks.
In answer to a question, President Erdoğan said: “Unfortunately, we cannot say at the moment that the terrorist organization have withdrawn from the area. They are still there,” President Erdoğan said, pointing to the acts of terror committed against civilians in the area.
Underscoring that the U.S. and Russia have not been able to clear the area of terrorist organizations, President Erdoğan noted that he will discuss the with U.S. President Trump during his visit and with Russian President Putin in a phone call later.
