Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın made statements and answered reporters' questions in a press conference at the Presidential Complex following the meeting of the Presidential Cabinet.

In the conference broadcast live, Presidential Spokesperson Kalın said in his introductory address to the meeting, Mr. President touched thoroughly upon his G20 program and his visits to Japan and China.

"Turkey-Russia-Iran trilateral summit on Syria will be held in turkey in august"

As you also followed, Mr. President had a busy global agenda at the G20 Summit held last week. He both made presentations on G20’s four main themes during the relevant sessions and held intensive meetings on climate change, environmental issues, trade, economy, finance, migration, refugees, and anti-terror fight, and our opinions, as you know, were included in the G20 Final Communiqué.

Mr. President also had a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. As one of the most important outcomes of these meetings, the next Turkey-Russia-Iran Trilateral Summit on Syria, held previously as part of the Astana Process, will be hosted by Mr. President in Turkey in August, and the Syria issue will be discussed in detail during this summit.

The main topic will undoubtedly be Idlib, but other regions in Syria, general security situation, political transition process, the constitutional committee and the return of refugees to their homes will also be on the agenda of the summit. We have started to make our preparations on it, and are working on the dates.

We also agreed with our interlocutors during the G20 Summit to hold the second meeting of the Quartet Summit on Syria, held for the first time in Istanbul last October, in Turkey once again. So, with the participation of Turkish, Russian, German and French leaders, a quartet summit is planned to be held in late August or early September, in other words prior to the United Nations General Assembly. General security issues, in particular, Syria, will be discussed during that meeting, as well.

"Unilaterally-imposing policies have an undermining effect on security and stability"

Another important topic discussed during these meetings and talks was the issue that the global system cannot be sustained and run via unilateral impositions.

It is impossible today for the system to be under the tutelage of a country or a group in this global era where everything is intertwined with each other. Unilaterally-imposing policies have an undermining effect on security and stability.

Multilateralism has become an obligation, imposed by the global system, in all areas from trade to economy, from technology to cybersecurity, from major political and humanitarian issues like migration to diplomacy, culture and humanitarian aid.

Therefore, it is of paramount importance that relevant countries cooperate with each other and increase the coordination between themselves in order for such issues as trade and tax to not be used as the elements of an economic war.

Mr. President had already thoroughly discussed with his interlocutors these issues both at G20 Summit and during his visits to Japan and China. It must be evident that such unilaterally-imposing policies will harm everyone."

Presidential Spokesperson Kalın also answered reporters' question.

"The delivery of the S-400s will start very shortly and they will be used actively"

Answering the question asked by a reporter: "When will the S-400 air defense systems be delivered to Turkey? Can you give us an exact date? Where will they be deployed? Are the claims that they will be deployed in Ankara correct? And will the system actively work?"

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın said: "As you know, the S-400s procurement process is aimed at addressing our country’s need for an air defense system. And we are rapidly advancing toward its final stages.

As President Erdoğan has expressed before on the matter, long hours were spent and great efforts were made in order to procure the Patriot Defense System.

However, no offer was made that would meet our expectations and therefore, the alternative, the S-400s, was raised and put into action.

The delivery of the S400s will start very shortly – I will not give you an exact date- and they will be used actively.

Some views, scenarios if you will, are being voiced that the systems will be brought but will not be used, that they will not be activated.

As you know, this project is carried out within the framework of our country’s air defense needs. And the Republic of Turkey has made its decision as a sovereign state. And the systems will be used actively.

"The S-400s are a choice, emerged as a result of Turkey's needs"

However, it is not a system, which will pose a threat or a danger to our current security system within the NATO system. Above all, it is, as its name implies, a defense system.

The s400s are not assaulting systems and it is out the question for them to pose a threat to other countries. Quite the contrary, they are procured to meet our country’s defense needs. Therefore, there is no aspect or dimension of it, which may pose a threat to the NATO system or the F-35s or our current aerial systems.

Our Ministry of National Defense is working with our Air Forces Command and relevant force commands on where to deploy the S-400s.

It is a process with various technical aspects, including training, deployment, activation, and operation. It is a complicated system, as you know. They continue to work on it and we will share it with the public when that work is completed."

“The incidents in Libya are worrisome”

"Haftar’s attacks in Libya is on our agenda. We received reports that a UAV, sent by Turkey, was shot down last night as part of these attacks. Have you receives such reports? And also, there is some criticism that the weapons Turkey sent to Libya are against UN resolutions. How do you comment?" Presidential spokesman Kalın was asked and answered as follows:

"We are deeply concerned about the incidents in Libya. It is a great tragedy that Haftar and forces, close to him, bombed a refugee camp yesterday and that over 50 people lost their lives there.

We condemn that in the strongest terms possible.

As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said, it amounts to a war crime. Our Foreign Ministry, our relevant institutions, our Permanent Representative to the UN, in particular, are taking the necessary initiatives. A report must be prepared immediately on the issue and an investigation must be conducted.

When we look at the general picture in Libya, an agreement was signed between the Sarraj Government, recognized by the UN and the international community, and Haftar last April.

According to that, it was agreed that a new political process begins in Libya. However, a few weeks after the declaration of the said agreement, Haftar launched a military operation and besieged Tripoli.

Nearly 500 civilians lost their lives in the clashes. Thousands of people had to leave their homes.

I would like to note that President Erdoğan conducted busy diplomatic talks with the US, Russia, France, Germany, and Italy and formed a public opinion that Haftar’s attacks must end immediately. He continued his contacts during his bilateral talks at the G20 Summit.

"The tension in Libya must end immediately"

At the moment, Haftar’s attacks in Tripoli and its environ have been repelled to a great extent. However, it is not sufficient for Libya’s peace, stability and security.

A political process must begin. In his capacity as the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord, Mr. Sarraj declared recently that he would initiate a new national reconciliation process, which we as Turkey support. Mr. Sarraj informed President Erdoğan of the matter over the phone and asked for his support. We expressed that we would back the process under the roof of the UN. However, Haftar and his supporters' military operations, illegal actions, continue to cause problems.

Haftar and his men's threats against Turkish citizens and companies, while we were in Japan, further reinforced our resolve on the issue. In our remarks back then, we clearly stated that any attack against Turkish citizens and Turkish elements, including ships, the Turkish Airlines, planes –we are not running any flights there at the moment but still- and Turkish companies, would make Haftar a legitimate target.

Upon that statement, our 6 citizens were released. And we can say it is generally tranquil over there for our citizens. However, the tension in Libya continues in general and it must end immediately.

"We will continue to closely monitor the process in Libya"

Our relations with Libya and the Government of National Accord, recognized by the international community, continue under the roof of the United Nations.  Therefore, our involvement in the political process there and our efforts for the process to conclude in favor of the Libyan people must be seen in this regard.

We have deep-rooted historical, cultural and economic relations with Libya. Let me note that we will not allow steps that would jeopardize these relations. However, what matters most is to ensure the peace and serenity of the Libyan people.

As you know, we have a security and defense agreement with Libya. Surely, updating and expanding it of importance to Libya's peace and stability. Therefore, we will continue to closely monitor the process in Libya.

In the days ahead, a series of diplomatic initiatives will be taken under the chairmanship of Italy. The Italians consulted the matter with us. We noted that we would participate in the process and support it.

However, I would like to especially underline that it is of great importance that Haftar and his supporters immediately quit their aggressive attitude, the process be carried out within the framework of the legitimate Sarraj Government, the Government of National Accord, which is recognized by the international community and the UN."

ILKHA