The Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, addressed members of the press at the International Media Centre as part of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit to be hosted by Türkiye at the Presidential Complex.
Stating that they would be delighted to welcome both international and national media representatives to the summit, Head of Communications Duran said, "This summit, which has come to the fore with the NATO 3.0 discourse, is very important. Very important issues will be discussed in Ankara, both in terms of the future of NATO and how the global architecture will be shaped."
Highlighting that the summit is expected to be the one with the highest level of participation at the heads of state level, Head of Communications Duran continued as follows:
"Of course, there will also be bilateral meetings. I had mentioned before that the importance of this summit lies in the high level of participation and discussions as to how the future of NATO will be shaped. We have created work areas for the members of the media here in the Nation's Library, the world's third-largest library. It features workstations for 1,800 people. Similarly, there are plenty of areas where live broadcasts can be made. There are 40 production suites, and more than 2,500 media representatives will have the opportunity to cover the summit here and keep the world and Türkiye informed. Therefore, Ankara is hosting a very important summit. All the foreign guests and statespeople in attendance will experience the finest hospitality in Ankara. I am confident that you, too, will give your very best as part of these efforts. I once again hope that the summit will prove beneficial for NATO, for Türkiye, and for the world."
"There is an expectation for a shared commitment to reinforcing the Alliance and carrying it forward into the future"
In response to a journalist's question about the bilateral meetings President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will hold on the margins of the summit and the content of those meetings, Head of Communications Duran gave the following answer:
"First and foremost, as you know, one of NATO’s key priorities at this Summit is strengthening the Transatlantic bond. In this context, there is an expectation for a shared commitment to reinforcing the Alliance and carrying it forward into the future. This will be one of the principal issues leaders will discuss at the summit. Furthermore, there will be a series of bilateral meetings. Naturally, these meetings generally focus on each country’s own bilateral agenda. However, since they are taking place on the margins of the NATO Summit, issues related to defence and security—such as the future of Europe and enhancing European security—will also feature prominently. Defence spending will likewise be on the agenda. Each country’s bilateral agenda is, of course, unique, so the specific issues will vary from one meeting to another. Overall, however, the Summit will provide an important platform both for shaping NATO’s future and for countries to review and advance their bilateral relations. Our President will hold a large number of bilateral meetings, during which these respective agendas will be discussed."
Asked about the main topics to be addressed during President Erdoğan’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, Head of Communications Duran stated, "President Erdoğan’s meeting with President Trump will effectively revolve around two major occasions: The NATO Summit and President Trump’s state visit. We attach great importance to this visit. During the numerous telephone conversations between our President and President Trump, a wide range of bilateral issues have been discussed. You are already familiar with some of them. One is the issue of the KAAN fighter aircraft engines. Previously, there was also the Halkbank case. In addition, there are other matters relating to defence and security cooperation between Türkiye and the United States. It is therefore expected that all of these issues will be on the agenda. Furthermore, our trade agenda with the United States is also of considerable importance. All of these matters are expected to be discussed."
Following his remarks, Head of Communications Duran toured the facilities prepared for the media at the Media Centre, including the hall where President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are scheduled to hold their joint press conference.
Furthermore, the Head of Communications Duran shared a post on his NSosyal account, assessing his visit to the Media Centre.
In the post, Head of Communications Duran said:
"On the occasion of the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, we have convened with members of the press at our International Media Centre, set up in the Nation's Library at the Presidential Complex.
Ankara is poised to host a landmark summit expected to attract the highest level of participation from heads of state and government. This summit is a critical turning point not only for the future of the Alliance but also in transforming global security.
The media centre we have set up in the Nation's Library features workspaces for 1,800 individuals, live broadcasting spots, and editing rooms to enable more than 2,500 members of the press to efficiently cover the summit.
I am confident that contacts to be held under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will yield constructive outcomes for numerous major topics, notably strengthening Transatlantic ties, Europe’s security, defence cooperation, and regional issues."
