ADDS MORE STATEMENTS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT
By Zehra Nur Duz and Dilara Hamit
ANKARA (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday stressed the importance of efforts for peace in neighboring Syria, urging all peace advocates to support this pivotal call.
“We want peace in Syria, and we expect everyone who stands for peace to support this historic call,” Erdogan told journalists on his return flight from Washington, DC, where he attended a NATO leaders’ summit this week.
On Türkiye’s peace efforts in Syria, Erdogan said: “US and Iran should welcome these positive developments and support the process to end immense suffering.”
“A fair peace in Syria would benefit Türkiye (among neighboring countries) the most,” Erdogan said, adding: “The most important step in this process is to start a new era with Syria.”
He emphasized that a just peace in Syria, respecting its territorial integrity, is in Türkiye's best interest.
Erdogan noted that progress has been positive so far, and he hopes for concrete steps soon.
On a potential meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, something he has hinted at in recent days, Erdogan said: “Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is working with his Syrian counterpart to lay out a roadmap, and we will take steps accordingly.”
"We have been striving for years to extinguish the fire in our neighbor, Syria," said Erdogan, referring to the over decade-long Syrian civil war, which sent millions of migrants into Türkiye and created a power vacuum near the Turkish border that terrorist groups tried to exploit.
“Our main expectation is that no one will be disturbed by the process in which Syria builds a new future as a united and whole country.”
He added: “Terrorist groups will do everything they can to poison the peace process in Syria. They will plot provocations and set traps. We are aware of all these plans and are prepared.”
Erdogan last week signaled a new diplomatic peace initiative with Damascus, suggesting a potential invitation to Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
-Türkiye’s fight against terror
Erdogan also accused NATO and Western countries of not supporting Türkiye's fight against terrorism.
"As a NATO member, we have always conveyed this discomfort to the West. Terrorism has found some degree of support in Western countries, particularly in Germany, France, and the UK,” Erdogan said.
"We have often been left alone in protecting our country's, thus NATO’s, borders from terrorism and eliminating threats," he noted.
"Moreover, assistance and support were provided to terrorists threatening NATO's borders, which only strengthened their threats," according to the Turkish leader.
Touching on relations with Iraq, Erdogan said that following their visit to Iraq, they observed significant steps taken by the Iraqi administration in combating the PKK terror group.
“The Iraqi National Security Council has prohibited the PKK activities in Iraq. This has been reflected in actions on the ground, and cooperation between Turkish security forces and the Erbil administration has been satisfying,” said Erdogan.
Türkiye also has good relations with the Iraqi Defense Ministry and intelligence organizations, said Erdogan, adding that the Iraqi Interior Ministry officially declared that the PKK is responsible for the arson and fires, with the Erbil administration confirming these statements.
“These developments in the fight against the PKK are unprecedented and promising, though not entirely sufficient,” said Erdogan.
“Our stance towards the administration in Sulaymaniyah, (northern) Iraq will not change, including the airspace embargo, as long as it does not distance itself from the terrorist PKK,” Erdogan noted.
“Türkiye has conveyed to them that taking certain steps in Sulaymaniyah would prompt Türkiye to reconsider its position. The ball is now in their court,” he said.
Türkiye in recent months has complained of cooperation between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, and the terrorist group PKK.
In its nearly 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
- Palestine issue
On Israel’s devastating war on Gaza, now into its ninth month, Erdogan said: “What those who want to stand on the right side of history need to do is recognize state of Palestine. A fair, just approach requires this.”
Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.
Over 38,300 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 88,300 others injured, according to local health authorities.
Nine months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean, water and medicine.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah.
-Conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia
Hopeful about peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia which is fully supported by Türkiye, the Turkish president said: “Türkiye has discussed peace with (Armenian Premier Nikol) Pashinyan, and signals from the region are promising."
“The decision to open the Türkiye-Armenia border could be reconsidered if peace progresses,” he said.
On a land route in the southern Caucasus, Erdogan said that a land route through the Zangezur corridor, connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, “would benefit everyone, especially Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran.”
The Zangezur region was originally part of Azerbaijan, though the Soviets gave it to Armenia in the 1920s, leaving Azerbaijan deprived of a direct overland route to Nakhchivan.
Following its 44-day war with Armenia in fall 2020, Azerbaijan has focused on infrastructure including motorways and a 43-kilometer (26.7-mile) railway through the corridor.
-Russia-Ukraine war
About mediation between Ukraine and Russia, Erdogan said: "We are in contact with both Russia and Ukraine. In doing so, we are striving to be as fair as possible."
"We have taken a fair step in the Black Sea grain corridor. We have met the demands of both Russia and Ukraine," Erdogan said.
"We are holding discussions with both Russia and Ukraine to reopen the grain corridor. However, we have not yet reached a result. I hope that we can resume operating this corridor," Erdogan added.
Türkiye, internationally praised for its unique mediatory role between Ukraine and Russia, has time and again called on Kyiv and Moscow to end fighting through negotiations.
- US, French elections
Regarding pressure on US President Joe Biden to step down, the Turkish president stated that the American media is speculating about potential replacements and said: "The fact is, Biden has already said he’s not stepping down."
About the French election, Erdogan said President Macron will decide who forms the government.
"The coalition forces in parliament will do the necessary work, but the final decision rests with Macron. Those on the right side of history should recognize Palestine as a state, as justice and fairness demand this. The momentum for recognizing Palestine has already begun in Europe, with countries like Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia taking significant steps," Erdogan said.
He also emphasized that France recognizing Palestine would contribute to global peace and stability, adding that all countries that haven’t recognized Palestine yet should do so without delay. Regional and global peace depends on a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, he added.
-Ties with NATO allies
Erdogan also protested restrictions by Germany on defense industry sales, saying such restrictions among NATO allies ill befit the NATO alliance.
He also objected to German customs holding up the delivery of turbines for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, now under construction in southern Türkiye.
"We need to overcome issues related to the lack of fulfillment of our Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft request, the turbines, as well as the procurement of some machines used in our frigates," said Erdogan.
On the process of F-16 procurement from US, Erdogan said that government ministers and institutions are closely monitoring the process to get swift results.
Erdogan said that priority is to fulfill Türkiye's F-16 request, despite various subordinate issues, stressing the wish to not focus on financial aspects.
He also announced a potential visit to China after the UN General Assembly this fall, voicing hope that President Xi Jinping next year will pay Türkiye a return visit.
*Erdogan also added that he does not see the risk of World War III as high and hopes to avoid such outcomes.
Emphasizing peace over conflict, he advocated for actions that promote stability and cooperation.
“All countries should work towards building a climate of peace rather than tension,” he said.