President Erdoğan: Turkey and Russia agree that the Syrian conflict can only be ended through a political solution
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation held a joint press conference following the Meeting of the Turkey-Russia High Level Cooperation Council in Moscow.
“$100-BILLION TRADE GOAL WILL BE ACHIEVED”
“We have had the opportunity to discuss various aspects of the cooperation between Turkey and Russia. We have displayed the will to further our relations in all areas. And we talked about the steps we can take in the future in line with this aim,” President Erdoğan said.
“Our trade volume with Russia has reached $26 billion. This is a success but our potential is much greater than this figure,” President Erdoğan said, noting that $100-billion trade goal will be achieved.
“WE DECLARED THE YEAR 2019 THE YEAR OF CULTURE AND TOURISM”
“We also highly value the social and cultural relations between Turkey and Russia. We, reciprocally with Russia, declared the year 2019 the year of culture and tourism. The cultural events will start tonight with Ankara State Opera and Ballet’s performance of Troy Opera at Bolshoi Theatre,” President Erdoğan said.
“Last year, Turkey has hosted 6 million Russian tourists, which is a new record. I believe we will break this record in 2019 thanks to the year of culture and tourism,” President Erdoğan stated.
Underlining that steps should be rapidly taken for visa-free travel, President Erdoğan said: “I believe these steps will be taken soon. We discussed it in detail with my dear friend Mr. Putin.”
“We exchanged views on Syria and other regional issues during our talks. With regard to Syria, we discussed the U.S. decision to pull out from the region. We reviewed the developments on the ground, particularly in Idlib. We also talked about the current political situation,” President Erdoğan said.
“TURKEY AND RUSSIA AGREE THAT THE SYRIAN CONFLICT CAN ONLY BE ENDED THROUGH A POLITICAL SOLUTION”
“We discussed future steps we can take jointly for the restoration of peace and security in Syria. I would like to reiterate that, on the basis of our common understanding with Russia, we are determined to wipe out terror groups, which threaten our national security, from Syria. We had thwarted a new humanitarian tragedy in the de-escalation zone in Idlib. We have highlighted the importance we attach to the preservation of stability and peace in Idlib.”
“We have reiterated that we will not allow an organization in northern Syria which will pose a threat to Turkey’s security and Syria’s territorial integrity,” President Erdoğan said. “Just like DAESH was great threat, the YPG/PYD is a threat of the same nature. With the elimination of DAESH, similar organizations and threats must also be eliminated.”
Underscoring that Turkey and Russia agree that the Syrian conflict can only be ended through a political solution, President Erdoğan said: “We have reiterated our determination that a balanced and respected constitutional committee be put into work as soon as possible in coordination with the United Nations in order to accelerate the political process.”
“FOREIGN TRADE IN NATIONAL CURRENCY CONSTITUTES THE MOST IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEM OF OUR TALKS”
President Erdoğan also answered reporters’ questions following his remarks.
In answer to a question about trade in national currencies, President Erdoğan said: “Foreign trade in national currency constitutes the most important agenda item of our talks.”
Noting that Turkey imports nearly 50 percent of its natural gas from Russia, President Erdoğan highlighted the need for the natural gas in residential and industrial areas, and said that it is of vital importance to Turkey.
Drawing attention to the importance of cooperation between Turkey and Russia in defense industry, President Erdoğan said: “All we long for at the moment is to switch to national currencies as soon as possible.”
“WE HAVE THUS FAR TAKEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE, ALL THE STEPS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN IDLIB”
Stating that Idlib is one of the vital areas in Syria, President Erdoğan noted that if people leave this area, they will come to Turkey, which is why the region is sensitive. “Because of the sensitivity of the area, we work jointly with Russia. Our job is not easy in the region because of the terrorist organizations there. However, we are doing our best.”
“We have thus far taken, and will continue to take, all the steps that should be taken in Idlib,” President Erdoğan underlined.
“We also work with Russia in Manbij,” President Erdoğan noted. “There was a declared road map about there. It was declared to be 90-days long but it has been 9 months. Maybe, it will even be longer than that. In the process thus far, the solidarity between Turkey and the Russian Federation is of utmost importance. Above all, destroying the terror corridor there is extremely important. Highlighting the importance of Syria’s territorial integrity, President Erdoğan also underscored the importance of the cooperation with Russia with regard to it.
Drawing attention to the importance of the Astana process, President Erdoğan said that the solidarity between the leading actors of the process, namely Turkey, Russia and Iran, continues, and that talks were held that that for other countries, such as Jordan, to be included in the process.
RETURN OF SYRIAN REFUGEES
“Excluding Genova is out of the question here. By taking these steps, we want achieve results soon so that people can go back to their lands there. With the resolve here, 300 thousand people have been able to return home. If we can be more resolute here, this figure can rise much higher. There are 3 million 600 thousand people on our lands and we are taking care of them, meeting their educational, medical needs. If we can take these steps, I believe we can help them return home soon,” President Erdoğan said.
“OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO PROTECT SYRIA’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”
Asked about the steps Turkey and Russia are planning to take regarding the anti-terror fight and the political transition process in Syria, President Erdoğan noted that the steps taken about Idlib yielded favorable results. Underlining their desire for the restoration of peace in Idlib like in Al-Bab, Jarabulus and Afrin, President Erdoğan said: “We carry on our efforts to that end. These areas should all be cleared of terrorists. No matter where terror originates from, we have always displayed a clear stance against it and we will maintain our determination to do so. Our main goal is to protect Syria’s territorial integrity.”
Reiterating Turkey’s resolve not to allow any act of terror by the YPG particularly in Tell Rifaat, President Erdoğan underscored that the YPG, without doubt, is a terrorist organization against which Turkey will continue to fight in Afrin, as well.
Highlighting the fact that the YPG is an offshoot of the PKK, President Erdoğan stressed that Turkey will crack down on that terrorist organization.
“SINCE WE HAVE ALREADY ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT ON S-400S, IT IS A DONE DEAL”
In answer to a question as to whether the ties between Turkey and Russia are strong enough to withstand the adverse impacts of the third countries within the context of the TurkStream and S-400s, President Erdoğan said: “We are two countries in which the sovereignty unconditionally belongs to our respective peoples. Therefore, we don’t allow anyone to adjudicate on our sovereign rights. Otherwise, we cannot be a state or a nation. This is the basic element that renders us an independent state and an independent nation. This sensitivity underlies the steps we take and the decisions we make. Third parties, of course, don’t ask us about the steps they are to take. Likewise, we take our steps after we conduct deliberations and consultations within ourselves. We have already drawn up and determined our roadmap with regard to S-400s and taken the necessary steps. Everything has been completed. Given all this, those who advise or ask us to scrap it most probably don’t know us. Since we have already entered into a contract on this issue, it is a done deal for us. We move forward accordingly. This is our sovereign right, our call. No one can ask us to back down on it.”
The press conference was preceded by signing of various documents between the two countries.
Following the conference, President Erdoğan, seen off by Russian President Putin at the Kremlin, proceeded to Vnukovo Airport to leave for Turkey.
