Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkey works "with might and main" to raise “well-equipped” youth in the country, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday.
"We are working with might and main to build our future on a stable foundation and to raise well-equipped youth," Erdoğan said at the Turkish Youth Summit in Istanbul.
Erdoğan said Turkey aims to widen the imagination of the youth instead of enclosing them with bans.
Turkey on Saturday called on the U.S. to terminate its engagement with the terrorist group PYD/YPG in Syria.In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, who visited Washington on Nov. 1-2., termination of engagement is necessary for both Turkey’s national security and the establishment of sustainable peace and stability in Syria.The statement came after Onal held talks with the U.S.’s Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood during his visit.Turkey has repeatedly objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PKK/PYD as a "reliable ally" in Syria, which has included supplying arms and equipment.The ministry said in recent days, Turkey has acted in accordance with its rules of engagements to the provocative activities by PYD/YPG on Turkey-Syrian borders. “We have said that we will never tolerate terror activities beyond our borders,” the ministry added.The statement said that the talks focused on improving relations between the two countries and coordination of regional issues as well as functionalizing existing cooperation mechanism.During the meetings, Turkey and the U.S. expressed their “satisfaction” over the launching of joint patrols in accordance with Manbij Roadmap previously agreed by the foreign ministers of two countries, the statement added.The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of northern Syria's Aleppo province.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.The Turkish Foreign Ministry also called on the U.S. officials to take “concrete steps” against Fetullah Terror Organization (FETÖ).The FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the defeated coup, which martyred 251 people and injured nearly 2,200 others in July 2016. Gulen has lived in a self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.
Turkey calls on US to terminate engagement with PYD/YPG
"Our common responsibility is to prepare a ground where the youth will not fall into the swamp of terror, violence, drugs and nihilism," he said.
The president noted Turkey has increased the total number of youth centers to 286, which stood at nine in 2002, and also the number of sport facilities were increased from 1,575 to 3,567.
Erdoğan said the government is converting the historical Rami Artillery Quarters, built in the 1770s in Eyup district on the European side of Istanbul, into Turkey's biggest library.
Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said on Saturday that Turkey has received initial indications that it will be among eight countries to be granted a waiver from U.S. sanctions against Iran, but is awaiting clarification on Monday.NATO member Turkey depends heavily on imports to meet its energy needs and neighbouring Iran has been one of its main sources of oil because of its proximity, the quality of its crude and favourable price differentials."Initial information coming in is that Turkey will be amongst eight exempt countries. But we don't know for sure yet. It will be clear on Monday," Pekcan told reporters in Ankara.Iran has no concerns over reimposition of new US sanctions: ministry officialIranian planes refused fuel in Turkey
Turkey expects to know on Monday if has waiver for Iran sanctions
Turkey calls for forming a clearing house within Developing Countries (D-8) to conduct trade in local currencies, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Saturday."We are experiencing a period of trade wars. The best response against this would be using our local currencies in trade. Turkey is preparing to do trade in local currencies with countries such as China, Russia, Iran and Ukraine. We also continue such negotiations with other countries."It is possible to realize this within D-8. Therefore, we propose to form a clearing house within D-8," Çavuşoğlu said at the opening speech of the 18th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of D-8 in southern Antalya province.On June 15, 1997, the D-8 was launched after Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan proposed the creation of an economic group consisting of eight emerging economies from the Muslim world.Turkey to host D-8 foreign ministers meeting in AntalyaAlongside Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan created an organization based in Istanbul.Çavuşoğlu said the countries need to work more to renew and revive, adding: "We can increase our strength and potential with new members."Lifting sanctions against US officialsUpon being asked about lifting sanctions against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen, Çavuşoğlu said the decision was taken in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.Turkey, US lift tit-for-tat sanctionsÇavuşoğlu reminded reporters that Turkey imposed sanctions on Sessions and Nielsen when the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul on Aug. 1"The U.S. wanted to reverse this decision. They asked us whether we were ready to lift sanctions mutually... 'We will lift it when you do so,' we replied."He said the sanctions were lifted mutually on Friday.The U.S. had imposed sanctions on the ministers amid a row about Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who was detained in Turkey on terrorism charges. He was released last month.
Turkey calls for forming clearing house within D-8