President Erdoğan: Turkey’s fight against terror in Syria to continue in a different manner
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan performed Friday prayer at Hz. Ali Mosque in Istanbul.
President Erdoğan answered reporters’ questions following the prayer.
TURKEY’S FIGHT AGAINST TERROR IN SYRIA TO CONTINUE IN A DIFFERENT MANNER
In answer to a question regarding his recent remarks that Turkey has no more tolerance left for the terrorist elements in the north of Syria, President Erdoğan said that the PKK/YPG/PYD terrorist organization is active not only in the north of Syria but all around the country and that coalition powers, the US, are the primary countries to lend it support.
Noting that this terrorist organization wreaks terror with the support of weaponry, equipment and tools it receives, President Erdoğan stated: “We are fighting against them. The regime takes strength from them. The regime is also being fought against in a similar fashion. We had exercised patience up to a certain point but, lastly, two police officers of ours died a martyr’s death here. We also see civilians being martyrized at times in these areas. Our fight will continue against all this in a very different manner from now on.”
MEETING WITH TALIBAN DELEGATION
In response to a question as regards Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’s recent meeting with the Taliban delegation, President Erdoğan pointed to the Taliban’s search for recognition across the world.
World leaders have not recognized the Taliban’s current position yet, President Erdoğan highlighted. “They are in pursuit of recognition by other countries. During their talks with our friends, they of course made some requests in terms of support, humanitarian aid and the functionality of the new process in Afghanistan. We will provide the Afghan people with every kind of support in relation to these requests so long as the administration in Afghanistan adopts a just stance in its international relations as well as in its relations with us for the protection of the Afghan people’s rights. So long as this is the case, it would be out of the question for us to neglect them since we have historical brotherhood with the Afghan people. We have made extensive efforts for the infrastructure and superstructure of Afghanistan and we have maintained these efforts until the very last moment. It was us who were operating the Kabul airport. If agreements can be made, Turkey, Qatar and Afghanistan can take similar steps in the period ahead as well.”
“AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH AZERBAIJAN ARE PRECAUTIONARY”
Asked about the recent energy crisis in Europe and the 11 bcm gas deal Turkey and Azerbaijan signed yesterday, President Erdoğan described the agreements with Azerbaijan as precautionary and drew attention to the continuing importance of TANAP and Turkey’s existing deals with Russia. “Our similar agreements with Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan show that we will not experience such crises. Similar problems afflict not only the UK but many other western countries. Thankfully, such problems are out of the question for us. We have taken and will continue to take necessary precautions.”
