Sergei Lavrov and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Tuesday that new U.S. sanctions against Ankara and Moscow were an illegitimate policy and a way for the United States to obtain an unfair competitive advantage in global trade.
Lavrov was speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Ankara.
The U.S. dollar's role as a global currency is in decline and Russia has been exploring for some time using national currencies to settle bilateral trade deals with Turkey and other countries, Lavrov said.
A large number of Turkey’s most well-known brands have joined forces to protest Washington’s hostile policies against their country by pulling their ads from prominent U.S.-based social media platforms amidst an escalating row between the two NATO allies A campaign launched on Twitter with the hashtag, “ABDyeReklamVerme,” meaning “Don’t advertise with the U.S.,” went viral on Twitter in Turkey as more companies pledged to suspend their advertising activities on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. In a tweet posted on Tuesday, media consultant of Turkish Airlines Yahya Üstün announced that Turkey’s national carrier will take part in the campaign and pull its ads from U.S. social media websites in protest.Egyptian imam offers wife's jewelry to support Turkey“We, as Turkish Airlines, are on the side of our government and people. Instructions with regards to this issue were given to our agencies,” the tweet read.As the list of Turkish businesses taking part in the boycott grows, Turkish communications giant Türk Telekom and supermarket chain Çağrı also announced that they’re taking part in the campaign.Hamdi Ateş, Turk Telekom's corporate communication head, said the company has told ad agencies not to include its ads in U.S. outlets.Erdoğan says Turkey will boycott US electronic products"The Turk Telekom family is joining the #NoAdsinUS campaign, standing on the side of our state and our people. We have told our agencies," he said on Twitter, using the Turkish hashtag #ABDyeReklamVerme. Robert Murdoch-owned FOX television channel also came under fire for its support of anti-Turkey policies and Islamophobic propaganda as Turkish social media users called on their fellow countrymen to boycott the media mogul’s channels and newspapers.Video: Turkish businessmen convert $3mln into Turkish lira after Erdoğan callTurkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
Turkish Airlines pulls ads from US media as Ankara-Washington row escalates
"I'm confident that the grave abuse of the role of the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency will result over time in the weakening and demise of its role," said Lavrov, who was speaking at a news conference with his Turkish counterpart.
"The use of national currencies for mutual trade has for several years been one of the tasks that the presidents of Russia and Turkey had set," said Lavrov.
"Identical processes have been happening in our relations with Iran. Not only with Turkey and Iran, we're also arranging and already implementing payments in national currencies with the People's Republic of China," Lavrov said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday said that Turkey will boycott U.S.’s technology products amidst a row between the two diplomatic allies.Referring to the fluctuations of the exchange rate, he said that the necessary measures have been taken and delaying production, switching to foreign currency would mean giving into the enemy.During his speech, Erdoğan also accused the U.S. of using the economy as a weapon, saying, “As they couldn’t make us do what they wanted on the field, they don’t hesitate to use economy as a weapon.”“The U.S. has targeted not only Turkey but also many regions from China to Russia, and from Iran to Europe.”Reitarating the importance of converting their foreign exchange savings into liras, Erdoğan stated, “The best response would be converting dollars and save the honor of the Turkish lira.”Video: Erdoğan: Turkey will boycott US electronic productsCalling the latest financial pressures of Trump a “deep operation” Erdoğan said, “When we reach our targets in 2023, every Turkish citizen will be twice wealthy as they are now.”Stressing the importance of keeping a firm political stance, he said, “There is an open economic attack against Turkey. In the past, these kind of things were done more covertly and indirectlyThere are two things we can do: one is putting forth an economic and political stance.”“I am calling out to the business world. We will produce and export more. We will boycott U.S.’s electronic products,” Erdoğan conluded.Relations between Ankara and Washington have been rocky since the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Turkey’s interior and justice ministers last week after Ankara refused to release American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.Last Friday, President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Turkey.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his turn said Turkey would turn toward new markets, new partners and alternative financial tools.“If you pressure us through the dollar, we will look for other ways to carry out our works,” he said.Terming the recent U.S. tariffs on Turkey as an “economic war,” the Turkish president said: “We’ve seen your game and we challenge it.”The aim of the recent U.S. pressure is “to ensnare Turkey in every field from finance to politics,” the president noted.“We will not surrender,” Erdoğan asserted.Turkey takes high level security measures around US pastor Brunson’s houseTurkey-US relations: From visionary to myopicTurkey 'most suitable' for investment despite perception operations: FMErdoğan slams US for preferring terrorists as partner
Erdoğan says Turkey will boycott US electronic products
On Monday, the Kremlin said that Russia favoured bilateral trade with all countries in their national currencies, rather than the dollar, but that the idea needed detailed work before being implemented.
Conditions exist for Syria refugee return
Lavrov said Moscow was surprised at the West's position on Syrian refugees and the conditions were there for them to start returning home.
Sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Turkey are shattering the U.S.’ reputation, warned Turkey’s foreign minister on Tuesday.“The era of bullying must end,” Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the 10th Ambassadors’ Conference in the capital Ankara."If the U.S. wants to continue being a reputable country, it cannot do so with these impositions," he said, referring to the sanctions."We are against the U.S. or any country imposing sanctions," he added.Syrians of Al-Bab rally in support of Turkey's liraHighlighting that Europe is also worried and reacting to the sanctions for two reasons, Çavuşoğlu said: "Firstly, for a stable and strong economy, Turkey is important for Europe and all its neighbors. Secondly, Turkey may be one of any EU or European countries tomorrow. All leaders at the NATO summit have seen this,” he said.For his part, Lavrov said that the U.S.’ "unlawful and illegitimate" sanctions policy cannot last for long.“We highly appreciate the rejection of our partners to join the anti-Russian sanctions,” Lavrov added referring Ankara's stance against newly imposed sanctions against Russia.Russia's Lavrov, in Turkey, calls US sanctions policy illegitimateSanctions on RussiaÇavuşoğlu said: “We have also made it clear that we do not agree with the EU's sanctions against Russia. We have also said that we do not agree with the sanctions against Iran.”Asked about U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton’s meeting with Turkey's ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Kilic at the White House on Monday, Çavuşoğlu said the ambassodor “gave a very clear message” to the U.S.“Our ambassador has clearly given this message: 'Pressure, threats and sanctions in relations with Turkey would only bring chaos. The U.S. can develop its relations with Turkey with dialogue by leaving aside the language of sanctions and threat,'” Çavuşoğlu said.‘We will not allow Idlib to become Ghouta’He also said that the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires will visit jailed American cleric Andrew Craig Brunson.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on two government ministers for not releasing Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.President Donald Trump on Friday ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.Precautions in SyriaTurkish FM said that he will discuss what could be done or which precautions could be taken in Syria’s Idlib with Lavrov.“It is clear what we should do in Idlib. Yes, we have 12 observation points there,” he added.Çavuşoğlu said there are armed terrorist groups in Idlib, which are a threat particularly to civilians and opposition groups.Bombarding all of Idlib just because there are some terrorists there is tantamount to a “massacre,” warned Çavuşoğlu.“The aim of these observation points are to determine when there are conflicts or violations, or a party disrupting a cease-fire, and, as guarantors, taking measures toward these."Since the moderate opposition and the people are very disturbed by these terrorists, we have to fight against them altogether, we have to succeed. It is crucial for us, for the security of our countries, for the future of Syria,” he added.The five-day ambassadors’ conference is hosting 249 Turkish ambassadors and two charge d'affaires, as well as a number of foreign diplomats.
US sanctions hurting its own reputation: Turkish FM
In Syria’s northern town of Al-Bab, which was purged of terror elements by Turkey’s 2016 Operation Euphrates Shield, local people are supporting the Turkish economy by converting their foreign-currency holdings into Turkish lira.On Tuesday, residents of the town, located in the north of Syria’s northwestern Aleppo province, organized a demonstration of support for Turkey outside a local forex office.Demonstrators waved Turkish flags and held placards reading, “Supporting the lira is wajib [i.e., a moral obligation]”, “You put down the [2016] coup; you will win the economic war being waged against you”, and, “The merchants of northern Aleppo are with you”, referring Turkish people.Russia's Lavrov, in Turkey, calls US sanctions policy illegitimateSome of them accompanied by their children, they chanted, “Turkey and Syria are one” and “Allahu Akbar [God is Great]!”.Sharif Abo, who came to the event -- waving a Turkish flag -- to buy Turkish lira, told Anadolu Agency: “I’m converting my foreign currency to lira to show support for the Turkish economy.”Asserting that support for Turkey’s currency would continue, he added: “As Syrians, we dedicate our property, lives and spirits to Turkey.”Turkish Airlines pulls ads from US media as Ankara-Washington row escalatesTen-year-old demonstrator Esra Osman, for her part, told reporters: “We children don’t have any foreign money to help with, but we can pray. May Allah protect the Turkish people and their leaders!”Civilians living in Operation Euphrates Shield’s area-of-operations first launched the “Support Turkey and the Turkish Lira” movement in May.Egyptian imam offers wife's jewelry to support TurkeyUS pastor in Turkey appeals for release, lifting of travel banErdoğan says Turkey will boycott US electronic products
Syrians of Al-Bab rally in support of Turkey's lira