Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Friday slammed the United States for sparking a diplomatic crisis with Turkey.
“The U.S. is pressurizing all its allies lately. This does not befit an alliance. Had our allies sold us an air defense system, we would have purchased it. We needed it urgently, so we bought it,” said Çavuşoğlu, referring to the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries Ankara is due to procure in 2019.
A U.S. delegation had indicated that if Turkey backed down from its deal to purchase the Russian S-400s then it would remove obstacles preventing Ankara’s purchase of the F-35s.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a three-way summit in Tehran on Sept. 7 with the leaders of Turkey and Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.The three leaders met in April in Ankara, where they discussed developments in Syria.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests.Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed and in excess of 10 million displaced, according to the UN.'Turkey essential to preventing bloodbath in Syria’s Idlib’Turkey to take concrete steps to protect Syria’s IdlibTurkey working to prevent 'disaster' in Syria: Erdoğan1000 Iraqis, Syrians killed by US-led coalition: Report
Russia's Putin to meet Erdoğan, Rouhani on Sept. 7
Speaking about relations between Turkey and the U.S., Çavuşoğlu said: "The U.S. president does not only have problems with Turkey, but also he has problems with every EU member country."
The U.S. House and Senate of Congress in late July agreed to bar the delivery of any F-35s to Turkey until the Pentagon delivers a plan evaluating the ramifications of axing Turkey from the program, and the state of Washington-Ankara ties.
As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prepares for an offensive against the last opposition-held stronghold of Idlib, Turkey holds a major responsibility in preventing bloodshed and is seen as a critical player that could ensure peace in the region.Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, Idlib Provincial Assembly President Ghassan Hamo evaluated the recent situation in Syria and stressed that the only bloodless solution in Syria’s Idlib, where more than 4 million civilians live, was to implement Turkey’s formula.He also stressed that every initiative undertaken without Turkey may trigger fresh disasters in the region.“In such a case, everybody loses; Turkey is the only key for peace and stability in Idlib,” Hamo added.Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.In recent weeks, the Assad regime has dropped leaflets over Idlib province urging people to surrender, opened a route for civilians to cross into government territory and, according to a war monitor, sent ever more reinforcements to the front. It has stepped up air strikes and shelling near the front lines, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Turkey to take concrete steps to protect Syria’s Idlib“Idlib locals won’t accept any solution without Turkey”“It is obvious what the Assad regime and Russia are doing in Aleppo, Ghouta, Homs and Daraa. We all know what they did to those civilians and armed fighters. We don’t trust Russia, Iran and the Assad regime in any way. Civilians in Idlib will not accept any solution that does not include Turkey,” Hamo said.Stressing Assad’s vicious chemical attacks in Syria, he stated, “The Assad regime carried out chemical attacks on Idlib’s Khan Sheikhoun province. It used chemical weapons twice in Ghouta and Douma. Independent international organizations reported more than 70 chemical attacks carried out by the regime. We have been informed that they have dispatched canisters in the Hama-Morek region.”The United Nations called on Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday to forestall a battle in Idlib which would affect millions of civilians and could see both terrorists and the government potentially using chlorine as a chemical weapon.Turkey working to prevent 'disaster' in Syria: ErdoğanSmear campaign against FSA seeks to eliminate it“Bashar Assad’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem visited Syria’s Lattakia last week. He said that their goal after Idlib is Turkey’s Hatay. More than 3,000 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists deployed in the Hama region are waiting for a command to attack Idlib. Their aim is to siege Afrin and rejoin the Jarablus-Afrin line” he said.Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20, 2018 in Syria’s northwestern region of Afrin to eradicate the area of terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), following Turkey’s seven-month Euphrates Shield Operation which succeeded in clearing large swathes of Syrian territory from Daesh.Additionally, during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday, al-Moualem said that government forces will “go all the way” in Idlib.“The Idlib issue does not pertain to Idlib alone. The main aim of the smear campaign conducted through the discourse of terror is to eliminate the Free Syrian Army entirely. However, the FSA is the backbone of Idlib.”“Turkish troops remain ‘heroes’, and Erdoğan remains to be ‘the hope of the oppressed’ in the hearts of the Syrians,” he concluded.Turkish forces are present at 12 points from Idlib's north to south, which are currently being fortified with cement walls and bulletproof watch towers against a regime attack.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.
'Turkey essential to preventing bloodbath in Syria’s Idlib’
Attack on Syria's Idlib would be "disaster"
Turkey is very much concerned over a possible attack on Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, Çavuşoğlu said.
"Turkey is trying to prevent an attack on Syria's Idlib, which would be a disaster," he added.
Located near the Turkish border, Idlib in May was designated as a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly forbidden as part of the ongoing Astana process.
Nevertheless, for the past two months, the Idlib de-escalation zone has been the target of particular fierce airstrikes by Russia and Assad regime forces.
Speaking at a SME Support Credit meeting, Turkey’s Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak said, “We will win this economic war that was initiated against Turkey in the end. Today, we have given a strong message of unity to the world with the image we have portrayed here.”“We know very well what steps we need to take. In this process, no one should doubt the strong Turkish economy we desire with the right policies and practices. We have launched a major process of change in the economy for this,” he added.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül for not releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson, causing the Turkish lira to depreciate, which President Erdoğan dubbed as an “economic war.”The sanctions were followed by U.S President Donald Trump increasing tariffs on Turkish imports, which Turkey responded to by imposing customs duties on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.
Turkey will win the economic war, says FinMin
Purchase of Russian missile defense systems
Çavuşoğlu also responded to a question over Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
"Turkey bought the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Period. There will be no more arguments on that. Turkey needs the systems urgently," Çavuşoğlu added.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony for military officers, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday said that Turkey needs the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries as well as the U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets for its fight against terror.“Turkey needs the S-400 missile defense systems, and will procure them as soon as possible. Turkey also needs the F-35 fighter jets. We are project partners, have invested $900 million into this and will continue to pay its installments,” said Erdoğan, adding that Turkey would obtain the jets from elsewhere if Washington halts their delivery.“The fight against terror seems to be the right of every nation but Turkey. It is not possible for Turkey to accept such impositions,” he added.Turkish pilot carries out first F-35 jet flight in USThe U.S. House and Senate of Congress in late July agreed to bar the delivery of any F-35s to Turkey until the Pentagon delivers a plan evaluating the ramifications of axing Turkey from the program, and the state of Washington-Ankara ties.Russia will begin delivering its advanced S-400 missile defense system to Turkey in 2019, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said in August.US delegation flounces threat to Turkey about F-35s and S-400s“Exchange rate volatility will pass”The president also touched on currency volatility, dubbing it an attack on the Turkish lira.“It is impossible to explain the attempt by the U.S. to use the case of pastor Brunson to topple Turkey economically and militarily. There is no need to be a genius to see who those behind the volatility in the exchange rates are; it is clearly an operation against Turkey. The exchange rate volatility will pass,” Erdoğan said.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül for not releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson, causing the Turkish lira to depreciate.The sanctions were followed by U.S President Donald Trump increasing tariffs on Turkish imports, which Turkey responded to by imposing customs duties on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.US steps against Ankara could destabilise region: Turkish FinMinErdoğan said Turkey needed alliances with other nations besides the European countries and the U.S."We know very well what kind of activities those who force us to have a unilateral relationship are carrying out either secretly or publicly all around the world."
Turkey needs Russian S-400s, will procure them soon: Erdoğan
Last December, Turkey announced it had concluded an agreement with Russia for the purchase of two S-400 systems by early 2020.
This April both parties agreed on early delivery of the systems.
The S-400 is Russia's most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system, with the ability to carry three types of missiles capable of destroying targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.