'He is a very smart and strong person,' he had said: Erdoğan's first comment on Trump's remarks

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists' questions on the plane while returning to Turkey following the D-8 Summit in Egypt.

On the plane, Erdoğan was reminded of US President-elect Donald Trump's words about him: "He is a very smart man and very strong."

Emphasizing that Trump's words summarize the perspective of himself and the administration he will form in the coming months toward Turkey, Erdoğan spoke as follows:

"WE ARE AWARE OF OUR STRENGTH"

"Everyone except our opposition is aware of Turkey's strength and effectiveness. Actually, they are also aware of some things, but because their tongues are not accustomed to speaking the truth, they distort them. Everyone, from international think tanks to the media, is writing and reporting on Turkey's increasing power in diplomacy. We are also aware of our strength and effectiveness. We are concerned with serving in a way that is worthy of our nation, which is the source of this power. As I said recently, Turkey is greater than Turkey. We have a goal of protecting our lands, developing our country, and taking steps forward while holding onto our roots. Besides this, we feel the responsibility of standing by our friends and brothers on our shoulders.

"WHAT CAN BE SAID TO A TRUE STATEMENT?"

We have reopened our embassy in Damascus; look at the feelings of our Syrian brothers who see our name there. The saying 'The Turk is the one who is awaited' is not a sentence formed just like that. Turkey's borders of the heart are far beyond its physical borders. In every country we go to, in every geography we set foot in, we have seen this. Mr. Trump is actually making a situational assessment and underlining our country's strength and effectiveness. What can be said to a true statement? The assessments are on point. There is really no problem between us. As of now, we have held our talks since the moment he was elected. Mr. Trump is a pragmatic politician. He has the vision to change policies that create costs for his own country and allies. After the handover, we will likely offer our first congratulations, and we will begin to sincerely address the issues on our agenda."

WHAT HAD TRUMP SAID?

Evaluating the latest developments in Syria and stating that Turkey is an important power, Trump had used the expressions: "President Erdoğan is a smart person I get along with well. He has a great military power. And this power has not been worn out in wars. He has built a very strong and effective army."