President Erdoğan: We have responded in kind to the attack in Idlib
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul before leaving for an official visit to Ukraine.
“WE ARE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE OUR OPERATIONS AIMED AT ENSURING OUR COUNTRY’S SECURITY”
Touching on the attack that took place in Idlib, President Erdoğan said: “I wish Allah’s mercy upon our four soldiers who died a martyr’s death in the treacherous attack the Syrian regime conducted today, and offer my condolences to their relatives and to our august nation. Our nine soldiers were also wounded, one critically, in the attack.”
Underlining that Turkey has responded in kind to the attack in Idlib as has been the case so far, President Erdoğan stated: “We are determined to maintain the operations that we carry out to ensure the security of our country, our nation and of our brothers and sisters in Idlib. Those who try to test Turkey’s determination through such despicable attacks are severely mistaken.”
STRONGER RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND UKRAINE
Regarding the visit, President Erdoğan noted that bilateral relations would be thoroughly discussed and that views would be exchanged on regional issues during the talks to be held as part of the visit. Pointing out that the contractual basis of bilateral relations would be further strengthened through the signing of new agreements in a variety of areas during the visit, President Erdoğan said that the relations between Turkey and Ukraine grow stronger in areas such as trade, tourism and defense industry.
President Erdoğan added: “Despite the countless setbacks we have experienced, our country continues to achieve great successes in foreign trade thanks to our exporters’ efforts. Together with Mr. Zelensky, we aim to reach $10 billion in trade. To this end, we want to sign a free trade agreement between our countries.”
Underlining that Turkey has always defended, and will continue to defend, the territorial integrity of Ukraine, a strategic ally and Black Sea neighbor of Turkey’s, at every platform, President Erdoğan said that Turkey, not recognizing the illegal annexation of Crimea, would continue to support a peaceful solution to the issue.
U.S. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY
In answer to a question about Turkey’s approach to the “Deal of the Century” announced by U.S. President Trump, President Erdoğan said: “During my remarks on Friday and even before that, I noted that it is not a peace plan but an occupation plan.”
Pointing to the highlights of the declaration, President Erdoğan said: “First of all, all statements that refer to the Palestinian side are deceitful. The text reads that the Palestinian side shall accept that Israeli enclaves located inside contiguous Palestinian territory will become part of the State of Israel. Secondly, it reads that the establishment of an Independent State of Palestine will be conditioned upon its acceptance of all articles of the Deal of the Century, which is also a lie. Thirdly, it reads that Hamas shall be disarmed and Gaza shall be demilitarized. In other words, Hamas will hand over all its weapons. What about Israel’s weapons, its nuclear weapons?”
Also opposing the proposed deal for designating undivided Al-Quds as Israel’s capital and for preventing Palestinians living abroad from returning home, President Erdoğan described the promises to open a U.S. embassy in the independent State of Palestine and to provide $50 billion for projects in the State of Palestine as lies told over and over again for years. “They did not even pay to the Palestinians the collected tax revenue for many years. They cut off power and water to Gaza.”
