President Erdoğan said, "The time has come for Khojaly and Karabakh to experience lasting peace and calm under Azerbaijani sovereignty. It is Armenia's responsibility to support peace in order to facilitate and maintain it."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists' questions and commented on the recent developments on his return flight from Nakhchivan.
Stating that they visited Nakhchivan, which is the gateway to the Turkish world, following his visit to Baku in June, President Erdoğan said that they laid the foundation of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline with President İlham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and that they aimed for the total 80,150-metre line to be able to provide a daily transport capacity of 2 million cubic metres.
President Erdoğan reminded that the initiative completely satisfies all the natural gas needs of the people of Nakhchivan and also noted that they inaugurated the Nakhchivan Military Repair and Production Complex.
President Erdoğan noted that recent developments have once again demonstrated the significance of domestic and national defence industry capabilities and that he is certain that this complex will make significant contributions to Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan's defence capabilities.
"Our visit to Nakhchivan was crowned by the three agreements signed in the fields of energy, transportation, and public housing. With each new initiative, we feel honoured to advance our relations with Azerbaijan." President Erdoğan said.
"Once more, I applaud our beloved Azerbaijan on its historic triumph"
President Erdoğan said that during their meeting with Aliyev, they had the opportunity to discuss an array of bilateral and regional issues, addressed the present situation in Karabakh and reaffirmed Türkiye's unwavering support for Azerbaijan's just cause, and continued:
"Once more, I applaud our beloved nation, Azerbaijan, on its historic triumph during the anti-terrorist operation. I wish Allah's mercy upon our martyrs and a speedy recovery for the injured. The Azerbaijani army has treated civilians with exceptional mercy while being unyielding to terrorists. The stark distinction between what occurred 30 years ago during the occupation of Karabakh and what followed the liberation of the occupied territories has already indelibly imprinted itself into collective memory. Truckloads of food products and all other supplies required by civilians are being delivered to the region. I also commend our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters for their humanitarian and conscientious response to civilians following the operation.
Türkiye has supported Azerbaijan in every step. In my address to the United Nations General Assembly last week, I strongly emphasised our support. The operation resulted in the consolidation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty over the entirety of Karabakh. More importantly, after 44 days of homeland defence, a fresh window of opportunity has opened up for the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the region. It is well known that we believe this opportunity should be taken advantage of. Instead of delaying the process, we anticipate Armenia to demonstrate a strong will. When we spoke by phone on September 11, I shared this expectation with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia."
President Erdoğan said if Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as good neighbourliness principles, are upheld, they do not see any issues that cannot be resolved and continued as follows:
"Regional normalisation will also be greatly accelerated by developments in the Azerbaijan-Armenia process. We will continue to collaborate with Azerbaijan to ensure stability, peace, and prosperity in the South Caucasus. I hope that this visit will be auspicious for our entire region as well as our bilateral relations. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to my brother, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, for the gracious welcome offered to me and my delegation."
"We have an advantage with Menendez out of the equation"
Answering the questions of journalists after his assessments, upon the question, "One of the most significant barriers to the sale of F-16s from the United States to our country and their modernisation is US Senator Bob Menendez, who was forced to resign temporarily following his indictment for corruption. Do you expect the White House to take any action in regards to the Senate's review of the F-16 sale or the approval of the modernisation?" President Erdoğan said:
One of our most important problems regarding the F-16s was the activities of US Senator Bob Menendez against our country. Therefore, our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan will closely monitor this process. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan met in the US three or four days ago. These discussions are currently ongoing. However, it would be advantageous to seize this opportunity and meet him again. Consequently, we may be able to speed up the F-16 procedures. Menendez and others with the same mentality are acting in an obstructive manner towards us on many fronts, not just the F-16. We have an advantage with Menendez out of the equation, yet the F-16 issue is not entirely reliant on Menendez.
Our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan will oversee the areas that require management. We are currently awaiting a clear response from the US on this matter. We are hopeful that we will get the expected positive outcome soon. Even this issue demonstrates how critical it is for a country to be self-sufficient in the defence industry. Previously, we were in the same position with UAVs and UCAVs. There was a Predator issue at the time. We needed it, but we could not get it from our allies. What did we do? We developed our own UAVs. We did not stop, we built UCAVs, Bayraktar Akıncı, Kızılelma, Hürkuş, Atak... Currently, we need F-16s, but we are also working to develop the KAAN, our next-generation fighter jet.
"The completion of the Zangezur Corridor is a matter of strategic importance"
President Erdoğan was asked, "When we returned from Azerbaijan last year, you stated that Iran, rather than Armenia, was impeding the progress of the Zangezur Corridor. After Azerbaijan's anti-terrorist operations in Karabakh, what is expected to occur in the Zangezur Corridor?" Regarding the question, he said that the direct highway and rail connections with Nakhchivan and other regions of Azerbaijan will strengthen our relations.
President Erdoğan stressed that, in the future, they would be able to cover a far greater distance as they stopped walking and started running, adding, "Therefore, we will endeavour to open this corridor as quickly as possible. The completion of this crucial corridor between Türkiye and Azerbaijan is a matter of strategic importance and must be completed. When this corridor becomes operational, a vehicle or train departing from Baku will be able to directly travel to Kars. The brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan will become significantly stronger. Positive signals from Iran on this issue are also encouraging."
"Armenia is now paying the price for the Khojaly Massacre"
President Erdoğan was reminded of the fact that TRT interviewed a girl who witnessed the Khojaly Massacre 31 years after it occurred and asked, "The flag of Azerbaijan is now flying in Khojaly. Those who yearned to return to Khojaly can now do so. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on this development?" President Erdoğan said, "We went through that process as much as that girl did. That massacre opened wounds. The Khojaly Massacre is undoubtedly unforgettable for those who experienced it and for us as well."
President Erdoğan continued:
"Armenia is now paying for the Khojaly Massacre and will continue to do so because one million Azerbaijanis simply migrated from Khojaly and other cities. To where? To Azerbaijan. Decades later, Azerbaijan has demanded that those responsible for the massacre be held accountable. It did so in a unique manner and reclaimed its territory. For years, the United States, Russia, and France, which are the so-called Minsk Group countries, have refused to recognise Azerbaijan's right. In the end, Azerbaijan took matters into its own hands and resolved it. Who lives in Khojaly right now? The true owners of Khojaly. We wish Allah's mercy upon all martyrs.
The Azerbaijani army entered Khojaly in an effort to bring peace and calm, not chaos, blood, and death. It did not invade, as Armenian gangs did decades earlier. They did not arrive to slaughter people. They entered Khojaly in order to bring the peace and calm it deserved. They reached their own territory with the news of victory before them. The time has come for Khojaly and Karabakh to experience lasting peace and calm under Azerbaijani sovereignty. It is Armenia's responsibility to support peace in order to facilitate and maintain it."
"The Island of Cyprus deserves to be remembered for peace and calm, not tension."
When asked whether new steps will be taken towards further integration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with the Turkic states, President Erdoğan stated that there would be a meeting of the Organisation of Turkic States in the near future.
President Erdoğan noted that Azerbaijan also desires President Ersin Tatar of the TRNC to be invited to this meeting, adding:
"A meeting will be held in Kazakhstan, and I hope that we will see the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an observer member at this meeting. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan is also very dedicated to this cause. He also expresses his desire for the TRNC flag to fly there. We will, inshallah, continue to demonstrate our resolve hand-in-hand and shoulder-to-shoulder as we take this step regarding the TRNC. Recognition of the TRNC is the best option for all countries that want to ensure permanent peace and tranquillity on the Island of Cyprus. The island's realities are evident, and the TRNC is the most tangible reality of Cyprus. Those who, for years, have exhausted every possible strategy to deny the Turkish presence in the region have ultimately been left frustrated because their efforts were baseless.
We tried all avenues to find a solution with the TRNC. We approached all formulas with sincerity, including the federation formula. However, it has become clear that there is no option other than a two-state solution in Cyprus from now on. Nobody should expect us to disregard the TRNC's rights or demonstrate indifference when they are infringed. We will now speak out more for the recognition of the TRNC by other countries. We have said before that a deadlock is not a solution and that it was wrong to ignore this issue and leave it unresolved. Now is the time to take the right step that will erase all the wrongs. Recognition of the TRNC will compensate for the wrong steps taken by many parties, particularly the European Union. The Island of Cyprus deserves to be remembered for peace and calm, not tension.
"You said that Türkiye is in talks with Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for the "Development Road Project". Have concrete steps been taken on the project? President Erdoğan was asked, "Could the tensions between Türkiye and Iraq regarding anti-terrorism operations pose a barrier to the completion of this project?" and he replied:
The Development Road Project is a project that covers countries in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Türkiye. But the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohammed Bin Zayed al Nahyan, has a very firm stance on this issue. In fact, he proposed at our last meeting that the project be documented and that we should complete the preparations for this project within sixty days. Clearly, the United States, Japan, India, and China each take a unique approach to the Development Road Project. The project will provide access to Türkiye and Europe via Iraq. In this regard, Türkiye has a strategic role. For this reason, our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure will endeavour to negotiate with its counterparts and complete this work because some groups are attempting to incite conflicts. Instead of inciting these conflicts, however, we will consider what steps we can take to resolve them. Because the Development Road will hopefully be the first step in the enlightenment of development that will eradicate all the dark circles that have settled in this region. Therefore, it is of utmost importance. Türkiye is right at the triangulation point... I hope everything works out in the end."
"Netanyahu's postponed trip to Türkiye will likely take place in October or November"
When asked, "During your visits to the United States, you stated that you planned to begin energy drilling with Israel. In fact, you even said that energy will be transferred not only to Türkiye but also from Türkiye to Europe. Where exactly will this take place in the Mediterranean, and is there a timetable for the work? There is also a visit by Netanyahu on the agenda; is a date set for it?"
President Erdoğan replied, "Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still working on the date of the visit. I presume Netanyahu's postponed trip to Türkiye due to illness will likely take place in October or November. Negotiations are underway for this visit to take place at the most appropriate time. As you are aware, the secretariat for these matters is headed by the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Israel. After that, we will pay a return visit. Türkiye and Israel cooperate in many areas. It is also true that new areas of cooperation have emerged. In the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war, Europe in particular is seeking renewable energy sources. Additionally, it is common knowledge that Israel seeks to transport its resources to Europe. Transporting these resources to Europe via Türkiye is the most rational route. We began working on this after discussing it in our last meeting. In terms of drilling activities, however, there are also opportunities for cooperation. We have instructed our relevant colleagues to perform technical work on this matter. As soon as possible, we will clarify details such as the route, schedule, and drilling areas during our upcoming meetings in Türkiye and Israel.
"We are the country that African countries take as a model"
President Erdoğan was asked, "After your call for reform in the UN, there is a new movement in Africa and the Caucasus. What is your take on this? Do you also have initiatives to reform these types of organisations within the Muslim world?" President Erdoğan responded:
Rather than G20 countries, the position of African nations is of utmost importance to us. We are the country that African countries take as a model. They follow Türkiye's lead. They focus on “What does Türkiye say about that, how does Türkiye view it?” For example, in all our meetings with African countries at the UN General Assembly, we heard them asking, 'What does Türkiye say?' Regarding the Grain Corridor issue, Mr. Putin's focus is on African countries. He says, “We do not send grain to European countries. If you are going to send it, let us do this as a trio of Türkiye-Qatar-Russia, let us even identify six African countries and send it to them. So we said, "ok". Now, telephone diplomacy has begun. We are working on this process with our Foreign Ministers, and we want to continue this in the most ideal way with African countries. Because 44 per cent of the grain passing through the corridor went to European countries. 14 per cent came to us, 14 per cent reached Africa, and the remainder arrived in different countries.
President Erdoğan emphasised that the world is changing and that those who cannot adapt to the changing world, cannot adapt to new conditions, and fall behind in the race for civilisation will become ineffective at best.
President Erdoğan stated that Türkiye has demonstrated dynamic process management with the steps it has taken and added:
"In order to be united, the Muslim world must eradicate the seeds of discord sown inside its brotherhood and embrace its members sincerely. Within the framework of the principles that form the basis of the unity of the Muslim world, there is a need to reform in order to adapt to the changing world, to have a voice and to become an effective power. The transformation of the Organisation of Islamic Conference into the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was an important step. It is necessary to take such steps and make its presence felt in significant matters. Issues such as terrorism, immigration problems, climate crises, anti-Islamism and racism are all evident. If we are unable to adopt a unified stance against these, we cannot discuss the effectiveness of the Muslim world. On what issue can the Muslim world unify, given that it cannot respond effectively to even the most abhorrent attacks against our holy book?
"Our hope is to transform them into a corridor of peace"
In response to the question, "After the Karabakh victory, there were things that had been expected for three years. Is it possible that your visit will pave the way for them and accelerate the process?", President Erdoğan noted:
Our hope is to transform them into a corridor of peace. It is impossible to imagine a corridor that is still dominated by war. Because if we are to consider both the Zangezur and Lachin corridors as peace corridors, we need to solve this issue without fighting. Considering the fact that these are rail systems, the train from Türkiye will pass through Nakhchivan, Armenia, and then continue on to Azerbaijan. As for passing through Armenia, where will it pass if Armenia does not pave the way for it? It will pass through Iran. Iran is currently receptive to this proposal, and because Iran is receptive to this proposal, it will now be possible to travel from Iran to Azerbaijan. On the other hand, this visit is a reminder to the entire world of the brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan and the spirit of two states and one nation. We have and will continue to demonstrate this everywhere through our words and actions, just as we did from the podium at the United Nations and in Shusha, the native land of dear Azerbaijan. We are two states, but in destiny and ideal, we are one nation. The two countries' relations will reach the pinnacle of their potential. We are determined to take new steps to strengthen our brotherhood. In every field, from energy to the defence industry, from trade routes to regional cooperation, the necessary steps will be implemented gradually. With these steps taken in the spirit of winning together, the two countries' potentials will reach new heights. Expanding the capacity of TANAP and allowing more gas from the Caspian to flow to Türkiye and Europe is one of these steps. This would serve the interests of both countries and contribute to Europe's energy security. By taking similar steps in the fields of transportation and tourism, we will continue to put forward projects based on common interests and with a holistic perspective."
"We will continue to take steps to protect our citizens from the effects of inflation."
When asked, "What will be done in the coming period to combat inflation? What steps are being planned to combat exorbitant prices?" President Erdoğan said, "As of now, our colleagues have a busy schedule in the fight against inflation. Our milestones on this path include the Medium Term Program, which we announced to rein in inflation and permanently reduce it to single digits. The economic administration is implementing monetary tightening and credit tightening measures to ensure price stability. These steps are intended to direct our resources into productive areas, ensuring high, sustainable, and balanced growth. Fiscal policies also help to support these goals. We will also strengthen our efforts to combat inflation by encouraging production and investment. The measures and steps we have taken to protect our citizens from the effects of inflation will continue during this process."
"If they keep their word, our parliament will do the same."
When asked, "You also met with the United Nations Secretary-General. You had a lot of meetings in New York. I am sure you have heard a lot of statements about Sweden. When asked, "Will Sweden be on the agenda of the parliament in October or will it be postponed to a later date?" he responded,
"The parliament has its own organisation and speaker... You know the United States has a parliament, and so do we. There is also an organisation within our parliament. As the People's Alliance, we also have an organisation. Obviously, as the People's Alliance, we will negotiate. As a result, we will file our application with the parliament in the meantime, and we will adhere to whatever timetable our parliament establishes. In this regard, our Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, had several meetings with US Secretary of Stat, Antony Blinken. I hope that if they keep their word, our parliament will do the same. He will proceed accordingly."
"I am curious if their promise is related to the F-16. When asked, "Second, will you personally meet with Mr. Bahçeli upon your return?", President Erdoğan responded as follows:
"They are already connecting Sweden with F-16s. So they are telling you to figure it out. Canada and the United States are both doing the same thing. "If you have a Congress, we have a Parliament," we say. We cannot put our parliament on the back burner. In other words, we currently have unity as the People's Alliance. We will continue our work within the framework of this unity. At the end of the day, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye will make the decision regarding Sweden's NATO membership.
Our parliament is closely monitoring every development in this matter. Our parliament will decide when and what that decision will be. We will see what happens when the issue is brought up on Parliament's agenda."