President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made remarks and answered questions on current issues in a joint interview with a private TV channel.

During the interview, held at the AK Party’s headquarters in Ankara, President Erdoğan made remarks on Turkiye's anti-terror fight, the Syrian issue, Turkiye’s relations with the U.S. and Russia, and oil drilling works in the East Mediterranean.

"We have dealt heavy blows to terrorist organizations"

Answering a question regarding Turkiye’s fight against terrorist organizations, President Erdoğan said they have dealt unprecedented heavy blows to terrorist organizations inside and outside the borders.

Describing U.S. President Donald Trump's approach, in which he argues not to hit Kurds when combatting terror, as a wrong approach, President Erdoğan highlighted that Turkiye’s fight is not against Kurds, but against terrorist organizations.

Underlining that there might be British, German or French "foreign fighters" as well as Kurds within terrorist organizations, President Erdoğan said it is impossible for Turkiye to sort out who is who while combatting terror, and that it will point a gun to anyone who points a gun to Turkish soldiers.

“Safe zone must definitely be under Turkiye's control”

Also touching upon Turkiye's demand for the creation of a safe zone in the north of Syria, the President made it clear that a potential safe zone must have a 30-kilometer depth from Turkiye's border, and it must definitely be under Turkiye’s control.

President Erdoğan went on to say: "We cannot say ‘yes’ to the handing over of the control of this zone to anyone else other than Turkiye. That is so, because, there might be an attack on us from there anytime."

Referring to the U.S. and French statements with regard to the number of soldiers they will leave in Syria, President Erdoğan stated that it is incredible to address the issue that way and that Turkiye, together with the Free Syrian Army, can make that zone secure.

Underscoring that the U.S. must first end its relations with the PYD/YPG terrorist organization, President Erdoğan, mentioning the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, noted that they closely follow the process, voicing his belief that the U.S. withdrawal will reflect in the security of Syria and of other countries in the region.

S-400 Air Defense Systems

Asked about his assessments on the pressures made to Turkiye with regard to the purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia, President Erdoğan said the S-400 issue is already over, and that since all the agreements, from credit conditions to joint production, have been reached, it will not make any sense to further talk about the issue.

Also pointing to the purchase of U.S. Patriot defense systems, President Erdoğan stated that the issue dates back to the Obama administration, adding that they have also raised the issue during the Trump administration, only they have received no response for 17 months.

"Turkiye is taking all the measures"

In answer to a question regarding the U.S. decision to remove Turkiye from the Generalized System of Preferences program, President Erdoğan stated that it is not possible for Turkiye to accept such a wrong step.

Noting that similar developments, unfortunately, have recently been witnessed in the relations between Turkiye and the U.S., President Erdoğan said that no one can intimidate Turkiye with such methods and that it is taking all the measures it deems necessary.

Oil drilling in the east Mediterranean

Asked about Turkiye's ongoing drilling for oil in the East Mediterranean, President Erdoğan underlined that drilling is no easy job.

Pointing out that Turkiye also continues talks and explores avenues to cooperate with the countries engaged in drilling in the region, President Erdoğan stressed that Turkiye’s drillships Fatih and Yavuz will carry on drilling.

ILKHA