ANKARA (WORLD) – President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the United Nations should take more initiative in the Russia-Ukraine war and that it failed to prevent the war. Answering the questions of journalists at Turkevi in New York on the occasion of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Erdoğan made a call to the leaders and said, “Whoever has more or less a law with Mr. Putin should discuss them with him and force this door.”
President Erdoğan stated that his contacts were beneficial in terms of conveying his views on issues that are important to Turkey, while pointing to the US President Biden’s proposal to change the structure of the UN Security Council, stating that Turkey’s proposal is a rotating membership.
While answering a question about whether it is possible to put pressure on Turkey by reminding the sanctions decisions taken against Russia, Erdoğan stated that he finds these sanctions “unbecoming” and that he will hold a meeting on alternatives.
Criticizes UN over efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war, calls on leaders
President Erdoğan said that the Russia-Ukraine war has paid a price, and that no one should increase this price. Underlining Turkey’s constructive role in the grain corridor and prisoner exchange, Erdoğan emphasized that the UN should make more efforts to stop the war and said, “Unfortunately, the UN could not end the war, could not stop the bloodshed, as well as the consequences of the war. energy and it has not found a solution to the food crisis,” he said.
Erdogan called on Russian President Putin to put pressure on him and said, “This is a process that should be done not only by me but by the joint efforts of all world leaders. Everyone should push this channel. In other words, anyone who has more or less a law with Mr. Putin should discuss them with him and force this door. Same with Zelensky. Otherwise, showing different negative approaches towards these leaders will not bring the result we expect.”
Start of direct flights to TRNC
“We do not see Northern Cyprus as a random country. We have accepted it as ourselves, we see it that way, and we will see it that way.” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that he would be pleased with the news about the launch of direct flights from Russia to the TRNC, and that Russia has a high tourist capacity. Stating that the rightful demands in Cyprus were always voiced during his meeting with Russian President Putin and with other leaders, Erdoğan said, “I hope that with the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the coming period, a very different future awaits there.”
Rotating membership proposal for the UN Security Council
President Erdoğan reminded his criticisms of the unjust structure of the UN Security Council and stated that US President Biden also means a change in structure and said, “Have they finally reached the point we said? Now they say, ‘Let’s both increase the permanent members and increase the temporary members’. When we say the world is bigger than 5 or when we say ‘A fairer world is possible’, this is where we came from. And I believe we can achieve that too.”
Emphasizing that Turkey does not consider the increase in membership sufficient and that it proposes rotating membership, Erdoğan said, “There should be no permanent and temporary membership, and it is necessary to introduce a fully rotating membership system. With this rotating membership system, there are currently 193 members; it is necessary to rotate these 193 members; If 20 is 20, but this must be alternately. Every two years these should be subject to transformation.” said.
“I talked to some Republican senators about the purchase-modernization of the F-16”
President Erdoğan stated that he held talks with some Republican senators on the developments regarding Turkey’s demand for the purchase of new F-16 aircraft and modernization kits from the USA, and that Defense Minister Akar also met with his interlocutors and said, “The weather is developing in a positive direction. We hope that this positive atmosphere will continue.” Stating that he had a short meeting with US President Biden at the reception, Erdoğan stated that talks continue at all levels.
– Participation in the European Political Community Summit is not certain, in case of participation, there may be a meeting with Pashinyan.
President Erdogan also answered a question about Armenia. Erdogan said, “We will also have some moves in the Caucasus regarding these issues. For now, we are just in the planning process. We will talk about these issues with our brother Ilham Aliyev and take our steps accordingly,” he said.
Pointing to the European Political Community Summit to be held in Prague, Erdoğan emphasized that he has not yet decided on participation, but Pashinyan’s request for a meeting at this summit, and that if they decide to attend, there may be a meeting.
When asked about the possibility that the US House of Representatives Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Armenia and his accusations against Azerbaijan could negatively affect the stability in the Caucasus, Erdoğan said, “There is neither the power nor the guilt to strike a blow to these developments in the Caucasus with this visit of Pelosi. I believe that he has disturbed many places. There is no need to exaggerate at all,” he replied.
We are working on MIR Card, we will take steps
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered a question about whether there could be pressure on Turkey regarding sanctions against Russia, as follows:
“The most important point is the event called Mir Kart. This was a step between us and Russia. We are evaluating the steps to be taken on this issue with our related friends. I hope we will take our steps accordingly. Of course we have an alternative, that’s different. But the whole problem is that there are different versions of these sanctions. These, of course, do not really suit friendship, they do not suit the regulation of our economic relations. What are we going to do now? What could be the alternatives; My colleagues, who are interested in these alternatives, are having their meetings. After these meetings, I hope to gather all my friends in Istanbul on Friday. We will hold a meeting with them and make our final decision here.”
“After the election, the second phase of the social housing project will begin”
Noting that the number of applications for the TOKİ housing project is approaching 5 million, President Erdoğan stated that the project will create a great economic activity and make a positive contribution to the solution of the rent and housing price problem.
Saying, “Our delivery of these residences to those living in all of our 81 provinces will be the best response to them (the opposition),” Erdoğan announced that he had ordered the foundations to be laid without waiting for the end of the year.
Until the end of June 2021, there will be a 25 percent discount for those who buy housing and workplaces from TOKİ.
Stating that they will start the second phase of the social housing project after the election, Erdoğan said, “Hopefully, we will show our difference once again by putting this project, which will consist of 250 thousand residences first and then another 250 thousand, for the service of our nation, with a total of 500 thousand residences. Of course, we will also cultivate the land. We will also prepare the land for 250 thousand residences. In addition, we are rapidly taking our steps regarding 50 thousand workplaces.
We are launching a 25 percent down payment discount campaign for our citizens who buy a house or workplace from TOKİ and continue to pay back. Those who cannot pay off the entire debt will receive a 25 percent discount for paying as much as they can, provided that it is not less than 25 percent of the balance. Residential and business buyers whose repayment installments have started until the end of June 2021 will be able to benefit from this campaign. The campaign will start today and will run until October 19. I hope we will be facilitators there as well.”
Greek Prime Minister’s remarks on the decrease in the number of Greeks in Istanbul
Reminding the Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ criticism of the decrease in the Greek population in Istanbul at the UN General Assembly, President Erdoğan stated that they did not pursue a policy to reduce the Greek population, on the contrary, they called on Greek citizens of Turkey to bring their children to Turkey. Erdoğan stated that he called on Greek citizens with whom he spoke on various occasions for their children to live in Turkey, and that the answers he received showed that they were living in other countries of their own accord. “Our door is open,” Erdogan said. We would have given citizenship to that child if he did not have citizenship,” he said.
Reminding that non-Turkish priests were granted citizenship in order to reach the minimum number of the Synod Council, Erdoğan said, “We did not expel any Greek from our country during our time. But their persecution of our citizens and compatriots in Western Thrace is incalculable. Recently, they even want to appoint our clergy there themselves. What do you understand by the condition and structure of our clergy?” said.