President Erdoğan: “The American judiciary is a full-fledged judiciary. So is the judiciary of Türkiye. And you have to respect that.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the guest of American PBS channel and answered questions on current affairs in New York, where he is visiting on the occasion of the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations.
In reply to a question on Türkiye’s preparedness to abandon its bid for European Union (EU) membership, President Erdoğan said Türkiye attached great importance to the decisions made by the EU, and continued as follows: “If the EU would take such a step forward by making such a decision, we would welcome it. Türkiye has been lingering at the doorstep of the EU for the last five decades, and we were always self-sufficient. We never relied on contributions or support we received from the EU, so it's not even necessary for us.”
“Sweden must keep their promises on terrorism”
Stating that Sweden must keep their promises on terrorism, President Erdoğan said, “We still see terrorists wandering around freely on the streets of Stockholm.”
Expressing that Sweden's bid to join NATO was being assessed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and it was going to be eventually ratified there, President Erdoğan said; “This is a part of the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The Assembly will see the situation within the framework of its own calendar. This proposal will come to a vote by the parliamentarians.”
President Erdoğan continued as follows:
“For that to be happening, of course, Sweden should keep its promises. Terrorist organizations should immediately stop their demonstrations on the streets of Stockholm, and they should stop their activities, because seeing this actually happening is going to be very important for the Turkish people. Sweden seemingly carried out legislative amendments, but it is not enough.”
Concerning whether or not he sees the sale of F-16’s to Türkiye as linked to Sweden’s membership to NATO, President Erdoğan made the following assessment: “I believe these two topics shouldn't be related, because while, primarily, President Biden said that this issue was tied to the Congress, we would always say, OK, we have the Turkish Parliament. So, these issues are tied to the Parliament. If the Parliament doesn't make a positive decision about this bid, then there's nothing to do.”
In relation to certain names in US Congress, such as Senator Bob Menendez, citing a number of excuses why they were opposed to the sale of F-16’s to Türkiye, such as Türkiye threatening Greek security, President Erdoğan said; “Bob Menendez is not very familiar with Türkiye. And Menendez doesn't seem to be familiar with Tayyip Erdogan either.”
Underscoring the long-lasting friendship between Greece and Türkiye, President Erdoğan said; “It seems like Menendez has taken a hostile approach to Türkiye and he's trying to pull us toward certain discussions of his choosing. However, we are not going to be part of this. Our friendship with Greece is not what they make it out to be.”
With regard to the criticism by certain US senators on Türkiye's decision not to impose the same degree of sanctioning on Russia as “the EU and other NATO members” in the context of the war in Ukraine, President Erdoğan went on to say, "Are we supposed to do what the EU members are doing? Türkiye has a different position in the world. And the EU member states have their different positions. Russia happens to be one of our closest neighbors. And we have a common history.”
Recalling that a total of 33 million tons of grain was exported to the rest of the world owing to the Black Sea Grain Corridor launched by Türkiye, Erdoğan stated; “We didn't do this just because the EU asked us to do so. It was a humanitarian obligation that we assumed. “
Responding to a question on why Russian President Vladimir Putin did not revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative, President Erdoğan said; “We requested this from him (Putin), and he said he was going to send one more million tons of grain.”
“I trust Russia just as much as I trust the West”
President Erdoğan stated that Putin said the grain export would start soon and added they were following the developments.
In response to the question, “Do you trust him (Putin) that he will make good on that pledge?", President Erdoğan stated the following:
“I have no reason not to trust him (Putin). To the extent the West is reliable, Russia is equally reliable. For the last 50 years, we have been waiting at the doorstep of the E.U., and, at this moment in time, I trust Russia just as much as I trust the West.”
As an answer to a question on Putin using grain deal as leverage in the war in Ukraine and that he is not to be trusted, President Erdoğan said; “I don't agree. Half of my natural gas supplies are coming from Russia, which means we have solidarity. We are taking mutual steps forward, and we are cooperating in the field of defense industry as well. We can do these things with Russia.”
President Erdoğan made the following statement in reply to a question on his discussions with Putin regarding the war in Ukraine:
“I need to be very clear and very frank. It's quite obvious that this war is going to last a long time. And for the war to end as soon as possible, we would like to be very hopeful. And Mr. Putin is actually on the side of ending this war as soon as possible. This is what he has to say, and I believe in his words.”
On the other hand, recalling that he held talks with Putin on Crimea in 2014; “I was not successful in my deliberations. I could not make them withdraw from Crimea. And I think it's not going to be possible for the time being either. I think time will only tell.” President Erdoğan reflected.
Regarding how long the war in Ukraine would last and when it would end, President Erdoğan said that it was impossible for him to give a calendar about when this war would end or how long it would go; and added; “Only the leaders of the both parties will be able to tell you.”
Upon the anchor’s question on whether Türkiye has more of a benefit from its relationship with Russia or the US; President Erdoğan gave the following response:
“This question cannot be asked to a political leader, because the way I engage in politics, to the extent possible, is all about establishing contacts with the nations around the world based on a win-win scenario. Just as I have good relations with the US, similarly, I will have good relations with Russia. I will continue to have a relationship with the EU member states based on the same approach as well, win-win.”
In response to a question advocating that there had been a number of “high-profile arrests” in Türkiye such as Sedef Kabaş, Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş, and saying “ Do you want them silenced, are they in some way threatening you?” President Erdoğan stated the following:
“Why are you so interested in this? Türkiye has a state of law. Such decisions can only be made by the judiciary. And if this is what the judiciary has decided to do, let the decisions or the judgments of the judiciary be respected and executed. I'm not in a position to serve in the name of the judiciary. This man you have referred to (Kavala) was a financier during these demonstrations.”
Regarding the court cases, President Erdoğan said, “No, I'm not getting involved in this”, emphasizing that the judgments were made by the judiciary.
Stating that Selahattin Demirtaş was a terrorist who caused the death of more than 200 people, and therefore the judiciary made a judgment; President Erdoğan said; upon being interrupted by the anchor, “Don't interrupt. You have no right to interrupt. You're not going to interrupt me. And respect me. And you are going to respect the judgment of the judiciary as well.”
“The American judiciary is a full-fledged judiciary. So is the judiciary of Türkiye. And you have to respect the judiciary of Türkiye” President Erdoğan remarked.
President Erdoğan provided the following response to a question on the journalists allegedly jailed in Türkiye, “If they were supportive of terrorism, those who are supporting terrorism, where would they live or roam freely around the world? These people have been supportive of terrorism. They were supporting terrorism, and that the judiciary made judgments on these people.”
President Erdoğan stated that the American people are following news on Türkiye, and underscored the vitality of the American media producing healthy and accurate news coverage.”