Erdoğan's 'Assad' statement: 'It could be the beginning of a new process'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists' questions on the plane while returning from the capital of Kazakhstan, where he went to attend the 24th Summit of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

GRAIN CORRIDOR

Regarding his meeting with Putin and the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdoğan made the assessment: "This war is not winning anything for either Russia or Ukraine. The only winners of the war are the merchants of blood and death. I want to believe that tensions will now be lowered and a ground for peace can be built. We are ready to do our part, as we have done until today, to establish and protect that ground."

Stating that they discussed with Putin the reactivation of the Black Sea Grain Corridor, Erdoğan noted the following:

"We made a very good start, especially regarding the Black Sea Grain Corridor. As you know, we carried out the transport of 30 million tons of grain through the corridor. I asked how they approach the idea of starting a new process here, as they insistently emphasize, by setting aside grain shipments to the West and creating a corridor via Turkey for Africa and other regions sensitive in terms of food security. Mr. Putin replied, 'I am maintaining the Istanbul Grain Initiative target exactly as it is.' There is benefit in developing this. Because Putin has a counter-perspective towards Europe. Since Europe has targeted Russia in this process, Russia also views Europe and the West negatively. He says, 'That place will not benefit from my resources.' Regarding Africa, they are in the approach of 'since they are poor, I will mobilize all my resources.' They already place Turkey in a different position on this matter. Therefore, we will continue our negotiations within this framework. For now, we will work on 'what kind of progress can we make, what kind of support will they give us?' on the Russian leg of the corridor. I believe that with the result we will obtain on this matter, we will hopefully make the Black Sea Grain Corridor operational again."

MEETING WITH ASSAD

Erdoğan, who recently announced that they could meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad, answered the question about how the meeting could take place as follows:

"I had already said on Friday, after Friday prayers, that we could start a new process with Syria. We may have an invitation for Bashar Assad along with Mr. Putin. If Mr. Putin can pay a visit to Turkey, this could be the beginning of a new process. The years that have passed in the Syrian field have clearly shown everyone that a permanent solution mechanism must be established. It is essential for Syria, whose infrastructure has been destroyed and whose people have been scattered, to stand up again and for instability to end. The calm recently achieved on the ground can open the door to peace with smart policies and solution-oriented approaches far from prejudices. The fact that instability in the region provides room for maneuver for terrorist organizations, especially the PKK/PYD/YPG, is a problem."

NORTHERN SYRIA

Regarding the attacks on Syrian refugees in Kayseri and the events in northern Syria, Erdoğan spoke as follows: "As you know, there are many structures in northern Syria. Among them, there are also those who want to improve their relations with Turkey rapidly."

Touching upon the calls for restraint by Syrian Interim Government Prime Minister Abdurrahman Mustafa, Erdoğan continued:

"After the events in northern Syria began, Syrian Interim Government Prime Minister Mr. Abdurrahman Mustafa stepped in and rapidly turned these negative developments into positive ones. Within Turkey, the situation calmed down with the rapid intervention of our security forces in the incident in Kayseri, and we achieved a positive result everywhere as soon as possible. Even if such situations arise in our country for a short time, we do not allow them to prolong. On the Syrian side, structures that are against terrorist organizations do not allow such a situation. In Turkey, those who aim to create racist currents and disrupt the climate of brotherhood are trying to fulfill the instructions they received from dark centers. But we know very well how to disrupt these games as well. We do not allow those who plan chaos over a vile incident, nor do we allow exploitation. In the Kayseri incident, our state has done what is necessary and continues to do so."

CROSS-BORDER OPERATION

Making evaluations regarding cross-border operations, Erdoğan answered the question of "whether a military operation is on the agenda" by saying, "As of now, the flow of events in the region will determine this. It would be wrong to say that we will take such a step right now before developments mature and reach a certain point. However, if it is necessary to take such a step in light of developments, it will be done." Erdoğan reiterated the sentence he had used before: "We have not allowed, we are not allowing, and we will never allow a 'terroristan' to be established in our region."

THIRD WORLD WAR DEBATE

Regarding the 3rd World War statements coming from the NATO and Russian fronts, and the subsequent statements from Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Ministry of National Defense, Erdoğan noted the following:

"Unfortunately, there are countries and circles in the West that are provoking this. They are in an approach that paves the way for a 3rd World War. The well-known arms dealers need a market. And the market for arms dealers is the West. Regarding this issue, Mr. Putin also said in his latest statements that he is in favor of peace. Because it is clearly evident that there is fatigue on the sides. We also asked them, 'When will we reach peace?' They are at the point of 'there is no time for this, the whole issue here is for mediators like you to put your weight behind it.' We are now trying to put our weight behind it. Our wish is for this war between Russia and Ukraine to come to an end. We are continuing, we are following it. My Foreign Minister Mr. Hakan Fidan and my Minister of National Defense Mr. Yaşar Güler are following this matter. My wish is that we reach a result as soon as possible. Our theses that we have been voicing for years, 'The world is bigger than five' and 'A fairer world is possible,' are concrete solutions we have put forward to disperse this negative atmosphere and eliminate the risk of a major war. It is still possible to implement these. What we need to do is to revise the global system, ensure that everyone complies with international law without discrimination, eradicate terrorism with a holistic understanding, and implement a global sharing system based on justice and equity."

"WE WILL GO TO THE TRNC WITH MHP CHAIRMAN MR. DEVLET BAHÇELİ"

Erdoğan answered the question about whether they would go to the TRNC together with CHP Chairman Özgür Özel for the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, saying, "We made our offer to go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus together once. After this offer of ours, they announced that they would go with their own plane. At this point, we will go to the TRNC with MHP Chairman Mr. Devlet Bahçeli."

INFLATION

Evaluating the economic trend based on June inflation figures, Erdoğan used the expressions, "It takes time for monetary policy to be effective. Additional effort was needed in fiscal policy." Erdoğan continued as follows:

"The risk premium is falling, interest rates are falling, and our rating is truly increasing, the current account deficit is narrowing, and we are improving the balance in the budget. Therefore, we need a little patience. The decline in inflation has just begun. It will continue by accelerating. We believe. These targets may seem ambitious at the beginning, but we truly and sincerely believe that we will achieve the targets. Our program is working. At the beginning, they said there was no program, then they said this program would not work, then they said money is coming but this is hot money. They are constantly focusing on a pretext, a mistake. Of course, we have problems, but there is a strong political will to solve these problems. Our biggest problem is the cost of living. The most unfair tax is inflation. Therefore, the greatest kindness we can do for our low-income earners, our minimum wage earners, and our retirees is to permanently reduce inflation to single digits again without engaging in populism. To permanently raise the welfare level of our citizens."

MERİH DEMİRAL'S "GREY WOLF" SALUTE

Touching upon the controversies that started after national football player Merih Demiral made the "grey wolf" sign, and the tension with Germany and UEFA, Erdoğan said that he would go to Germany on Saturday for the quarter-final match. Erdoğan used the following expressions:

"Does anyone say the Germans have an eagle on their jerseys? Does anyone stand up and say the French have a rooster on their jerseys, why are you acting cocky? Merih showed his excitement there with this image. Upon this, our well-known Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned their officials, and the necessary steps are being taken accordingly. Hopefully, the whole issue is on Saturday. Let us leave the field with a victory and advance to the next round. Unless there is an extraordinary situation, we have made our decision to go to the match."

News Source: 12punto