Stating that Turkey will start to take delivery of the S-400 air defense systems next month, Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continued as: "We have also always been open to different supply options concerning our security needs.

Turkey does not need to negotiate with, take permission from or bow down to pressures of any country while fulfilling its own security requirements."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the party’s parliamentary group meeting.

Commencing his speech by expressing his wish for the rerun of the Istanbul mayoral election held on June 23 to lead to favorable developments for the city and Turkey, President Erdoğan once again congratulated Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu for his victory according to unofficial results and underlined that the Istanbulites’ decision is most welcome.

Procurement of s-400s from Russia

Touching upon Turkey’s purchase of the S-400s from Russia, President Erdoğan underlined that Turkey continues with its multilateral searches regarding its security needs.

"We will start to take delivery of the S-400 air defense systems, which we have already ordered, next month. We have also always been open to different supply options concerning our security needs.

Turkey does not need to negotiate with, take permission from or bow down to pressures of any country while fulfilling its own security requirements. The S-400 issue is directly related to our sovereign rights and we will not back down on it."

"We have thwarted all the efforts aimed at making turkey a part of the crisis in our region"

Drawing attention to the attempts to isolate Turkey at a time when developments of critical importance concerning the region and the world have been taking place, President Erdoğan said: "The objective here is to push Turkey out of the global game that is being redesigned."

"We have seen the intention at the outset and accordingly completed our preparations. Not yielding to threats, we have taken a clear stance without the slightest concession on our country’s fundamental diplomatic, security and economic priorities."

President Erdoğan continued as follows: "We determinedly take steps to render the separatist terrorist organization ineffective both at home and abroad. Through our operations, we have scored achievements that would prevent the source of the attacks on our country from northern Iraq.

We have foiled all the attacks of the terrorist organization against our gains in Syria. We have thwarted all the efforts aimed at making Turkey a part of the crisis in our region."

Tension in the Gulf

Regarding the tension in the Gulf, President Erdoğan stated: "Tension in the Gulf poses a grave threat to not only Turkey but the whole world. We fulfill our responsibilities in order for this tension to be ended in a manner that observes the rights of the countries in the region.”

"We will never allow attempts that disregard Turkey’s and Turkish Cypriots' rights in the Eastern Mediterranean"

On the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, President Erdoğan underscored that Turkey will resolutely maintain the steps it takes in the region until it makes sure any kind of natural resources in the region is fairly shared.

"We will never allow attempts that disregard Turkey’s and Turkish Cypriots’ rights and interests," highlighted President Erdoğan, adding that Turkish vessels will carry on with their drilling and exploration activities while the Turkish Armed Forces take necessary measures for their security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

President Erdoğan further stressed that Turkey, Greece and the U.K. have the right to speak about Cyprus as guarantor powers but that France has no say in the matter.

ILKHA