Answering the journalists' questions on his flight home from his visit to India, President Erdoğan underlined that Türkiye will continue to produce solutions to prevent starvation in poor countries.
Stating that the Summit focused on current issues under the theme "One Earth, One Family, and One Future", President Erdoğan said that they exchanged views on important issues on the global agenda and presented Türkiye's stand during the sessions they attended.
"As Türkiye, we will continue to play an active role in matters affecting the entire human race," said President Erdoğan, adding that they will continue to strive for a fairer, more inclusive, and more equitable global system.
President Erdoğan said, "Every incident demonstrates the validity of our statement, 'The world is bigger than five.' Even if it causes discomfort for some, we will not back down."
Emphasising that Türkiye welcomed the decision on the African Union's request for permanent G20 membership at the New Delhi Summit, President Erdoğan stated that It has always been important to them that Africa's voice be heard on global and regional issues and that they will strengthen their current cooperation with Africa on the G20 platform.
President Erdoğan continued:
"The G20 has fulfilled its leadership role and demonstrated its effectiveness in addressing the numerous challenges we have faced to date. I believe that the G20's determined, effective, and solution-focused approach will enable us to overcome the current economic difficulties. In the name of our country, our region, and the entire world, we find it important that the summit declaration refers to our efforts with regard to the Black Sea initiative, condemns attacks on holy books, emphasises the significance of Zero Waste projects, and takes a clear stance on the issue of terrorism. We will continue to fulfil our role in the future as responsible members of the international community."
Question and answer section
President Erdoğan answered the questions of the journalists after his assessment.
Pointing out the part in the G20 final declaration where Türkiye's efforts were appreciated, President Erdoğan was asked: "We have the United Nations summit ahead. African countries are keeping a close eye and ear on Türkiye. What do you think the grain corridor's future holds?"
Stating that during his visit to Sochi, he discussed these issues in detail with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Erdoğan added that Mr Putin had said that the West has failed to keep its promises to him.
President Erdoğan noted:
"(Putin) stated that he would send one million tonnes of grain in the first phase. In particular, during our meeting with Lavrov today, we discussed sending 1 million tonnes of grain to poor African countries, as Qatar, Türkiye, and Russia. We will review this export we plan to conduct and take appropriate action. Previously, 33 million tonnes of grain had been shipped. We have proposed increasing this amount to provide relief to the least developed African countries. Lavrov said, 'Let us discuss this with the President.' I will revisit this topic with Mr Putin over the phone. It is beneficial to provide relief to the least developed African countries by increasing this amount. I believe that any meeting that prioritises dialogue and is founded on the win-win principle will produce positive outcomes for our country and humanity."
Stating that Türkiye's people-centred diplomacy, efforts for peace and active role in global affairs were appreciated by all countries and international organisations, President Erdoğan said, "At the G20, this appreciation was recorded in the final declaration."
"The issue will also be a major focus of the United Nations General Assembly."
President Erdoğan stated that they explained Türkiye's efforts, facilitating steps, plans and suggestions to the parties for the continuation of the grain corridor agreement, both in well-attended meetings on the margins of the summit and in bilateral meetings.
Stating that they would continue the same efforts and endeavours, President Erdoğan said:
"We will be present at every table as a stabilising force, ensuring that the world does not face another food, energy, or other crisis and that no more blood is shed. The issue will also be a major focus of the United Nations General Assembly. I will also explain our country's efforts on the issue in detail there. We have done and will continue to do our part to prevent the world from entering a new crisis and to prevent starvation in poor countries. This needs to be known by the world's public opinion, by the people of the world. Therefore, we will explain our efforts on all platforms. Nations, particularly people in Western countries, should be aware that Türkiye is the only country working to prevent a food crisis. As Türkiye, we will continue to seek solutions and make efforts to reopen this corridor until the end."
"All leaders asked Türkiye to operate the corridor"
Recalling his meeting with President Putin of Russia in Sochi last week, President Erdoğan was asked, "Were there any requests made by the leaders or ministers of other countries at the G20 summit regarding the grain corridor, the peace process, or global issues?"
President Erdoğan said that during the bilateral meetings as part of the G20 Summit, all heads of state and government expressed how valuable their efforts were and asked Türkiye to operate the Black Sea Grain Corridor.
Noting that the shared wish of all leaders was the continuation of the Black Sea Initiative, President Erdoğan said that he also explicitly touched upon the efforts in this regard.
President Erdoğan said, "Because the gravity of the situation, as well as Türkiye's efforts, must be known and seen," and continued:
"Many countries are aware of Türkiye's intensive diplomacy for peace since the beginning of the conflict. But, at this point, Western countries must also act and keep their promises. Of course, we raised Mr Putin's offer to send one million tonnes of grain for now. Through continued telephone diplomacy, we will ask Mr Putin to increase this amount. Surely, the West must fulfil its responsibilities in this regard as well. It's not just grain, there is also the issue of a fertiliser shipment in this regard. This fertiliser issue is not something to be taken lightly. Therefore, we will continue our discussions with Mr Putin to ensure that both products reach their targets. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan will continue to monitor the situation closely, and I am hopeful that we will be able to overcome these obstacles. Russia's demands are clear. You know, there are some issues that Russia sees as flawed. They want a payment mechanism to get paid for the grain they ship through this corridor, and they want their ships to be exempt from sanctions so that they can be insured. We are trying to solve these problems and get a result. Mr Putin stated that grain shipments would begin once their requirements were met. While Western countries appreciate Türkiye's efforts, they should also make efforts and keep their promises."
Meeting with South Korean President on the third nuclear power plant
Noting that the Türkiye-US trade volume target is 100 billion dollars, President Erdoğan was asked the question, "Could new steps be taken in the near future to increase trade between the two countries to this target figure? What are your economic and trade priorities for your trip to the US?"
Noting that he is working hard for his contacts in the United States of America, where he will go for the United Nations General Assembly meeting, President Erdoğan said, "We will come together with a number of brands that have made investments in our country. We will have direct meetings with them."
Expressing that he attaches great importance to meeting with these brands that have serious investments in Türkiye, President Erdoğan said:
"The outcome of our discussions with them will demonstrate that something far more significant has been accomplished. A company, for example, had plans to build a solar power plant on the sea. Together with its partner in Türkiye, they expressed their intention to take this step. Nevertheless, the plan has not been implemented thus far. Furthermore, there are developments in SPP (solar power plants), as well as some steps taken in solar energy. We attach great importance to these. In addition to these planned steps in wind and solar energy, we have also taken a step in nuclear energy with Akkuyu. We also discussed the plan regarding Sinop with Mr Putin, about the step we will take in Sinop. During this trip, we also met with the President of South Korea to discuss the construction of a third power plant. And with all these steps, we will have no shortage of energy. All of this will increase Türkiye's power in the energy sector. We intend to make one of the towers of the Istanbul Finance Centre in Ataşehir into an energy centre in addition to being an energy hub, ourselves. A tower will be reserved for the energy field."
Pointing out that there will be units related to SPP, HEPP, natural gas and subterranean mines in the energy centre in question, President Erdoğan said, "In the same way that London and Hamburg each have an energy market, I expect that the Istanbul Finance Centre will become a similar centre that is managed and directed by our Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources."
President Erdoğan gave the following information on other developments in energy:
"On the other hand, a financial institution headquartered in Washington provided 550 million US dollars in financing for a private company's investment in a petrochemical facility in Ceyhan. During our meeting in Istanbul with President Tebboune of Algeria, he raised the subject of advancing our joint action on these issues. The 550 million dollars of financing for the Ceyhan investment is crucial. The development of our economy, aided by the measures we have taken, and the dynamism of the private sector attract investors from the United States and all other nations. If we can increase our trade volume from less than 20 billion dollars in 2019 to more than 32 billion dollars in 2022, we will attain our goal of 100 billion dollars. No one should have any doubt that the favourable climate we've created in our political relations will also have a positive impact on our trade in the coming period."
President Erdoğan stated that increasing the number and quantity of export items such as energy, automotive, iron and steel will be their main priority, and noted that businesspeople have great responsibilities to diversify existing areas of cooperation and sectors.
President Erdoğan said, "Turkish businesspeople should also revise their partnerships with their American counterparts and establish new objectives. Turkish and US investors and businesspeople can be more courageous. Because there are governments in their nations with the desire to increase trade and the policies to do so."
"Türkiye is a significant base of production and trade"
In response to the question, "Can the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, brought up by the Prime Minister of India, be considered a US-backed plan against China's Belt-Road Initiative? Joe Biden also expressed support immediately. Is it a new move to impede China?" President Erdoğan remarked that, due to their geostrategic position, they closely observed the developments regarding all corridors in the world.
President Erdoğan said, "China has made progress on the Belt and Road Initiative and it continues to do so. As you know, we have also made progress in response to the steps taken by China. That is to say, all that progress, including Marmaray, is a part of that project."
Noting that they conduct diplomacy within the win-win principle and are studying to what extent they can benefit and gain from these alternative routes, President Erdoğan said:
"Countries are trying to develop their areas of influence through commercial roads and routes. We are aware of that, too. However, we consider the issue with the motto 'roads are the civilisation itself,' and we hope that all these projects will lead to the development of civilisation, people's welfare and peace. We argue that corridors are impossible without Türkiye. Türkiye is a significant base of production and trade. The most suitable line for traffic from east to west has to pass through Türkiye.
One step that we attach great importance to in this process is the step taken by the Gulf with us. We are talking about a corridor that goes to Europe via Iraq, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Türkiye. Mohammed bin Zayed, in particular, made a much more determined suggestion on this issue yesterday, saying, 'Let's not prolong this matter, let our friends finish the negotiations in 60 days, and let's lay the foundations immediately and hit the road.' In other words, they are that excited about this project and I gave the necessary instructions to both our Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and our Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. I hope they will meet with their interlocutors and take this step. This figure in question is not a small one. But the United Arab Emirates is very ready for this. Qatar is very ready. We are also very ready for this. I hope we will take this step in this way."