President Erdoğan: Turkey-.US. relationship is based on strategic partnership

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference in the Argentinian capital city of Buenos Aires following the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Stating that they, as the G20 countries, met with a wide agenda of issues at the Leaders’ Summit, President Erdoğan noted: “We discussed what we can do to eliminate the risks and threats we are faced with both in economy and other areas that directly concern the global economy. We have endorsed the Buenos Aires Action Plan that summarizes the G20 countries’ short and medium-term policies for a much stronger, more sustainable, more balanced and more inclusive global growth.”  

“WE EXCHANGED OUR VIEWS ON HOW TO ADAPT EMPLOYEES TO THE NEW ORDER BROUGHT BY THE TECHNOLOGY”

Stressing that the issue of increasing infrastructure investments has been one of the priorities of the Argentina’s G20 presidency this year, President Erdoğan added that during the session in which he was the main speaker, he found the opportunity to share with other leaders Turkey’s experience in infrastructure investments and the projects, first and foremost the Istanbul Airport, that have recently been realized. Underlining that the leaders agreed to increase the number of quality infrastructure investments during Japan’s G20 presidency next year, President Erdoğan continued as follows: “We also pointed to the need for developing a solution that pays heed to country-specific factors and countries’ right to make regulations in taxing digital economy. And, with regard to the future of working life, we exchanged our views on how to adapt employees to the new order brought by the technology. Within this framework, we pointed out that we will strengthen the implementations aimed at realizing the youth target which we set at G20 Antalya Summit. We also vowed to be actively engaged in issues such as child labor, forced labor, human trafficking and modern-day slavery.”

“IT IS DURING THE ARGENTINA’S PRESIDENCY THAT THE EDUCATION ISSUE HAS BEEN RAISED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE G20’S HISTORY”

Pointing out that it is during the Argentina’s presidency that the education issue has been raised and addressed for the first time in the G20’s history, President Erdoğan said: “We, as Turkey, drew attention to the importance of girls’ education, and reiterated our political support for the World Health Organization’s sustainable development goals in healthcare. Sustainable food future has been another priority of Argentina’s G20 presidency this year. I, as a speaker during this session, shared information about the domestic and foreign initiatives that our country has been shown as a model.”

Stressing that the climate issue is one of the topics that the G20 countries attach special importance to, President Erdoğan added: “We, as one of the lowest-emission countries among the G20 members, have and are making the necessary contributions. We once again voiced here our expectation for the fulfillment of the commitments made to us within the framework of the Paris Agreement. Especially, we underlined the need for the developed countries, the main responsible countries for this problem, to take on more responsibilities.”

“WE CONTRIBUTE TO EUROPE’S ENERGY SUPPLY SECURITY WITH PROJECTS SUCH AS THE TANAP AND THE TURKSTREAM”

President Erdoğan underscored that the energy issue is another important issue for Turkey, and added: “We, as Turkey, on one hand, meet our energy demand which increases in line with our economic growth, and on the other, contribute to Europe’s energy supply security with projects such as the TANAP and the TurkStream. We will continue to work hard for the transportation of Caspian energy resources to Western countries via Turkey in the period ahead.”

“WE WILL NEVER ALLOW THE RIGHTS OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS TO BE USURPED WITH FAITS ACCOMPLIS”

“We will never allow the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, one of the principal owners of the eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbon resources, to be usurped with faits accomplis,” President Erdoğan underlined, and added: “Turkey is determined to protect both its own rights and the Turkish Cypriots’ rights and interests. The recent consolidation of our presence in the eastern Mediterranean is a reflection of our uncompromising stance on this issue. We will continue to take necessary measures so long as the Greek Cypriots maintain their aggressive policies that ignore the Turkish Cypriots’ primary rights.”

Continuing his remarks on the energy issue, President Erdoğan drew attention to the nearly one billion people who continue their lives without electricity, and added: “After 150 years since the ending of slavery and 60 years since the ending of colonialism, these two morbid thoughts still, though not officially, de facto exists. We are of the belief that a system, which is not based on win-win principle and disregards rights and justice, will not last forever.”

“TURKEY IS THE COUNTRY THAT HOSTS THE MOST REFUGEES IN THE WORLD”  

Stating that at the Buenos Aires Summit, they underlined that justice is the key for the prosperity, peace and tranquility of all of the over seven billion people in the world, President Erdoğan noted: “We drew attention to the importance of development aids as well as the changes needed to be made in the structure of the United Nations Security Council within this period. We underlined the need for adopting an approach which focuses on humans, life and human values rather than a security and fear-oriented approach.”

Making remarks on refugees, President Erdoğan highlighted that Turkey hosts over four million refugees that come from different parts of the world as well as from Syria. Underscoring that Turkey is the country that hosts the most refugees in the world, President Erdoğan stressed that they, as Turkey, has thus far spent nearly $33 billion for the refugees from its own resources, and added: “We, as such a country, believe that nothing can be achieved by imprisoning refugees in concentration camps. We have not sent people to concentration camps. We have built container and tent cities for them, and they, though as tenants, are also living in different parts of our country by means of renting systems. No one can find a solution to the refugee issue by merely closing their borders or confining people, who flee from starvation, draught and conflicts, to barbed wires with police measures. Those, who think they are resolving the issue by fueling the hostility toward refugees, will, sooner or later, have to face with the outcomes of their mistakes.”

“G20 COUNTRIES SHOULD FOCUS MORE ON THE REFUGEE ISSUE”

Underlining that the current period is a period not to get away from responsibilities but to fulfill them, President Erdoğan said that according to the OECD data, Turkey made an official development aid of nearly $8.2 billion in 2017. Highlighting that Turkey ranks first in humanitarian aid in terms of national income, President Erdoğan continued as follows: “I regret to say that we have gotten no proper help from any countries other than our a few close friends. Moreover, we have and are still experiencing many difficulties in the use of the three plus three billion euros the European Union has promised for the Syrian refugees. Nearly two million euros have so far arrived in our country ─ let me particularly underline that not to our national budget ─ through international organizations. And, not to our national budget, but to international organizations. I believe that the G20 countries should focus more on the refugee issue in the upcoming period.”

“THE WORLD’S TRADE IS GROWING MORE CHAOTIC DAY BY DAY”

 Pointing out that this year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit was held during a period in which trade wars are being discussed rather than cooperation in global economy, President Erdoğan said: “The rules and principles of the World Trade Organization have been severely eroded during this very period we are going through. The world’s trade is day by day losing its foreseeable structure, rules of which are certain, and is growing more chaotic. A mentality as, ‘I did it, so it is done,’ undermines not only our trade but also institutions that are the gains of a long period.”

Pointing out that Turkey, the world’s 17th biggest economy, argues that the World Trade Organization should keep up with the changed conditions, President Erdoğan added: “The changed dynamics of the global trade, undoubtedly, necessitate making some regulations in the structure of the World Trade Organization. However, this is a process which should be carried out not with destructive, disruptive and unilateral steps that lead to chaos, but with common sense.”

“NO TERRORIST ORGANIZATION CAN BE ELIMINATED BY THE HANDS OF ANOTHER”  

Stating that they, as Turkey, attach great importance to the refugee and terrorism issues, President Erdoğan said that it is pleasing that these issues, which they consider are tied directly to the global security, have started to take more place on the G20’s agenda. “However, I regret to say that on this issue, we are faced with a dangerous mentality which makes distinctions between terrorist organizations,” President Erdoğan underlined, and continued as follows: “We, as Turkey, personally witness these double standards in the terrorist actions both inside our country and in our neighbor Syria. The militants, who carry out acts, kill civilians and are involved in terror in Turkey, roam western countries freely under the name of refugee, and can even engage in racketeering. The FETO members, who killed our 251 citizens at the night of July 15, are protected by some countries despite the dossier-loads of evidences and documents that we have presented. Our 2,193 citizens were also injured at that very same night. Everyone knows them, too, but protectionism continues just the same. We witness every day in person that the PKK terrorists are supported by our allies with thousands of truckloads of weapons and ammunition on the pretext of the fight against DAESH. It is evident that such an ambivalent attitude will not eliminate terror, but will encourage terrorist organizations. It has been revealed with the bitter experiences in the past that no terrorist organization can be eliminated by the hands of another.”

“WE HAVE DEALT THE HEAVIEST BLOWS TO DAESH IN SYRIA”

Highlighting Turkey’s efforts to fight DAESH and to prevent foreign terrorist fighters’ passage, President Erdoğan noted that Turkey has barred 70 thousand people with suspected links to DAESH and other similar terrorist organization from entering the country. President Erdoğan said: “We have deported 7 thousand people with identified links to terrorist organizations in Syria. We have neutralized over 3 thousand DAESH terrorists with Operation Euphrates Shield and nearly 4 500 PYD terrorists with Operation Olive Branch. We have dealt the heaviest blows to DAESH in Syria at the cost of losing soldiers. We will continue our fight in the future. We will not allow any organization in northern Syria that poses threat to the security of our country and region. Just like we saved the west of the Euphrates, we will save its east from the oppression and occupation of the separatist terrorist organization. On issues like this, we expect not double standards but sincerity from our allies.”

“THE YEMEN CRISIS MUST BE RESOLVED URGENTLY”

With regard to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, President Erdoğan underscored that the Yemen crisis which has been going on for 4 years must be resolved urgently, and said: “The world has been very silent about it.” “The entire international community, which has remained indifferent to the issue, is responsible for the emaciated children and for the innocent bodies pulled out of rubbles. The sufferings of Yemeni people, who are neglected because their region does not have sufficient oil reserves, must be eased as soon as possible. The independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Yemen should definitely be protected. An inclusive political solution on that basis appears to be the only way to lasting peace and stability.”

“WE HAVE MOBILIZED ALL OUR MEANS AND CAPABILITIES TO SHED LIGHT ON THE KHASHOGGI MURDER”

On the Khashoggi murder, President Erdoğan underscored that the stance taken on the murder has been an important test for many countries, and that Turkey has observed the law, morals and conscience since the very beginning. “We have mobilized all our means and capabilities to shed light on the Khashoggi murder from the moment we were informed of the incident,” President Erdoğan said. “The murder, which was first denied, then tried to be twisted, and eventually was acknowledged by the Saudi administration, was revealed because of Ankara’s determined stance. We have never seen and will never see the incident as a political matter. To us, it is a vicious murder and will remain that way. I am sad to inform you that our judicial and administrative authorities have not received the necessary support from Saudi Arabia.”

“It is not possible to accept the Crown Prince’s approach that ‘we cannot accuse anyone until proven guilty’ because 15 people came from Saudi Arabia to Turkey on two planes. They said it was a pre-planned operation, which we see that they backtracked on. It took such a form that their foreign minister first personally denied the incident, that their authorities said Jamal Khashoggi left the consulate… If Khashoggi left the consulate, who was waiting outside? His fiancée, who they had not let inside. If Khashoggi left the consulate, why did not he come to his fiancée and take her with him? It is all their contradictions and revealed as their lies.”

Stating that Turkey has evidence that Khashoggi was killed in 7.5 minutes, and shared that evidence with the world, President Erdoğan said: “We have shared the evidences with all who requested them. We have shared the evidences and information with the U.S. in particular, Saudi Arabia, the U.K., Germany and France, anyone who requested them.”

“WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL ALSO BE IN THE INTEREST OF SAUDI ARABIA TO CLARIFY ALL ASPECTS OF THE MURDER”

Underscoring that the Khashoggi murder is an issue not only for Turkey but also for the entire world, President Erdoğan said: “Neither the Islamic world nor the international community will be satisfied until all those responsible for this brutal murder, from the one who gave the order to those who executed, have been revealed.”

“We have no intention to undermine or harm the royal family or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We believe that it will also be in the interest of Saudi Arabia to clarify all aspects of the murder and prosecute all perpetrators,” President Erdoğan said.

“G20 IS AN IMPORTANT PLATFORM FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD”

Underscoring that the G20 is an important platform for the entire world, President Erdoğan said: “We propose to develop new formulas which will enhance the G20’s inclusiveness and its capacity to yield concrete results. We should all work together to reach an ideal G20, which will contribute to boosting world peace and prosperity from politics to trade, from terrorism to women’s and youth’s issues.”

Following his remarks, President Erdoğan answered reporters’ questions.

“TURKEY-U.S. RELATIONSHIP IS BASED ON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP”

In answer to a question regarding the topics discussed during President Erdoğan’s meeting with President Trump of the U.S., President Erdoğan said: “Turkey-U.S. relationship is based on strategic partnership.” “As two strategic partners, we first discussed the process in northern Syria regarding the east of the Euphrates, Manbij, and matters such as the Operation Euphrates Shield within this framework as well as Idlib,” President Erdoğan said, highlighting the importance of Manbij at the moment. Referring to the Manbij roadmap, set out by Turkey and the U.S., President Erdoğan said Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu paid a visit to the U.S. to revitalize the process.

Noting that they also discussed the FETO and Halkbank, President Erdoğan said: “We have shared the information and documents we have. Our bank’s officials are in the U.S. now to follow the process.” Stating that they talked about the FETO leader, President Erdoğan said: “I do not want to lose my hope. I am hopeful. I hope we will take steps against the FETO terrorist organization.”

“IDLIB PEOPLE ARE GRADUALLY RETURNING HOME”

In answer to a question regarding Turkey’s strategy on Idlib, President Erdoğan said: “Idlib is a hugely populated area and if the problem had not been resolved, hundreds of thousands of people would have come to Turkey through Hatay. We would have been faced with a new refugee influx.” Pointing to the Sochi Agreement and the Quadrilateral Summit in Istanbul, President Erdoğan said: “The people of Idlib are gradually returning home. And when we see that, we consider ourselves successful. We intend to maintain the process with Russia in a determined manner.”

“DEBATES ON GENOCIDE CLAIMS MUST BE LEFT TO HISTORIANS”

In answer to a question about Turkey’s relations with Armenia, President Erdoğan underscored that no one can say Turkey carried out genocide against Armenians, and said: “Currently, there are 100 thousand Armenians in Turkey, 30 thousand of whom are citizens and 70 thousands of whom fled Armenia and came to Turkey. Stating that the debates on genocide claims must be left to historians, President Erdoğan said: “We do not have such a practice in our history.”