President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the Atlantic Council at the Istanbul Summit on Friday, calling on the international community to respond more decisively to global crises and support Turkey’s fight against terrorism.
“We cannot solve our problems without acting with a sense of duty,” the president said.
"We must either find a way, or make a way, to solve international crises. We must take initiative and work for universal human values,” said Erdoğan, criticizing the West’s lack of aid to crises in countries such as Somalia and Yemen.
Erdoğan also criticized the international community’s stance on Syria, saying had actions been taken earlier, the death of Syrian civilians could have been prevented.
“Had the international community acted with resilience regarding Syria, would the regime have been able to use chemical weapons, or any weapons at all, to carry out their repression?”
“The continual murder of Syrian civilians by the Assad regime is perpetuated because he was able to get away with previous crimes. The murderer Assad is carrying out governmental terror.”
The president stated that Turkey would continue to fight against terrorism in order to protect its borders and national security.
“Operation Euphrates Shield proved to the world that Daesh can be defeated. Turkey is fighting against all terrorist organizations indiscriminately. We are doing what is necessary,” Erdoğan said.
“So long as threats persist, we will continue to do what is necessary. We will not allow a terror corridor to be formed on our southern borders.”
The president said Turkey’s border with Syria was coming under a “serious amount of mortar fire” over the past two days, and that Turkey was retaliating as necessary.
Erdoğan also remarked on Turkey-U.S. relations, and commended U.S. President’s airstrikes on an airbase belonging to the Assad regime following a mass chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib.
“I believe that we will open a new page in U.S.-Turkey relations with Mr. Trump. We have seen signs that his administration has taken firm steps regarding the Assad regime’s murderous acts in Syria.”
“Our expectation from our American friends is that they show understanding regarding terror threats. Terror organizations are like scorpions. They are bound to one day bite the hand that feeds them.”
“We cannot accept any alliance with a terrorist organization. The U.S.’s alliance with the YPG and PYD damages the spirit of solidarity with Turkey.”
The president also renewed Turkey’s call for the extradition of U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15th coup attempt and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
Since the failed coup, operations have been ongoing in the military, police and judiciary as well as in state institutions across the country to arrest suspects with alleged links to FETÖ.
“The fact that the FETÖ ringleader can still live and run terrorist operations from Pennsylvania is extremely distressing. It is our primary expectation of the U.S. that the FETÖ ringleader is extradited.
“Our trade relations are also very significant. I believe Turkey and the U.S. can make great progress in terms of energy.
Erdoğan also commented on the brawl that broke out when protestors stormed Macedonia’s parliament on Thursday after an ethnic Albanian was elected as speaker.
“Violence is never the answer. I would like to express my condolences to everyone who was affected by the violence in parliament,” he said.
