World leaders have begun assembling in New York for the annual United
Nations General Assembly. Among the leaders who sit at the crossroads
of many issues of global importance is Egypt Tayyip Erdogan, president
of Turkey or Turkey? A. As they pronounce it from Ukraine to Russia
to NATO, he wields outsized influence in both the East and the West.
We sat down yesterday in New York.
President Erdogan. Thank you very much for talking with us. I want
to begin with the war in Ukraine. Where As you know, people are dying
Still, every day you shown support for both sides Russia and Ukraine.
How do you think Who do you think has the upper hand right now?
Down on her. She didn't Judy, first of all, who has the upper hand
Russia or Ukraine? As a leader. I'm not willing to consider this.
All we want to do And what we want to see is to end this battle with
peace. Whether it be Mr Putin. Whether it be Mr Zielinski. I have
always requested and recommended this. This is a conflict that ended
up in casualties. People are dying, and nobody will be winning at
the end of the day. And that's not what we're looking for. On the
war. How do you see it? You said this week. You believe it should
end as soon as possible. How do you see it ending?
And and how quickly
Whoa!
Or look to the
Most importantly, Russian attitude will be very, very important here
in his back Istan. I got together with President Putin and we had
very extensive discussions with him and he is actually showing me
that he's willing to end this as soon as possible. That was my impression
because the way things are going right now are quite problematic.
200 hostages will be exchanged upon an agreement between the parties.
I think a significant step will be taken forward. Should Russia be
permitted to keep some of the territory it's taken.
Ah, from Ukraine since it invaded in February. Should that be part
of a solution.
To this
to this conflict, Fiscal must know and undoubtedly know when we talk
about reciprocal agreement. This is what we mean. If a piece is going
to be established in Ukraine, Of course, the returning of the land
that was invaded will become really important. This is what is expected.
This is what is wanted. Mr Putin has taken certain steps. We have
taken certain steps.
The lands which were invaded, will be returned to Ukraine, Russia
be allowed to keep Crimea
It was human. Understand it Water Since 2014. We have been talking
to my dear friend Putin about this and this is what we have requested
from him. We asked him to return Crimea to its rightful owners. These
are our descendants at the same time, the people who are living there.
If you were to take this step forward, If you could leave us, you
would also be relieving the Crimean Tatars and Ukraine as well.
That's what we have always been saying. But since then, unfortunately,
no step has been taken forward. Does President Putin recognized that
he miscalculated that he greatly underestimated the will of the Ukrainian
people to stand up for their own country?
And
other than no leader in the aftermath would say that it was a mistake.
Nobody will say yes, I made a mistake. The same thing can be applied
to Ukraine as well. Mr Zielinski. Do you think when he was moving
forward? Does he feel he made a mistake the leaders When they take
a path, they will find it very difficult to go back. It's very difficult
for the leaders to go back.
Was this invasion justified?
By the Russians. Was it just justified?
His spirit. Well, no invasion can be justified. Invasion cannot be
justified.
The Russians went in. And in the last few days, as you know, Mr President,
there have been reports of horrific, uh, killings of civilians and
soldiers
torture by Russian soldiers of Ukrainian civilians. They found mass
graves where the Russian troops have left.
Who should be held responsible, and should President Putin be held
responsible.
Tell me more
about this issue. The most ideal answer could be given as a result
of the activities taken by the United Nations, with the activities
of the United Nations are light should be shed on these discussions.
If that doesn't happen as a leader of a country, it will be difficult
for me to explain these issues come up with a statement, or else
it will bring us to our position as a country that does not follow
a balanced foreign policy. We cannot hold sides. We cannot take sides
and it wouldn't be right for us to do that.
If the U. N investigation show that there is evidence that Russian
soldiers
Committed these atrocities. And as you know, there had been bombings
of hospital schools.
Civilians across Ukraine should President Putin himself be held responsible?
I believe is. The room investigation leads to that conclusion, Putin
will show his reaction. It's not right to observe Putin as an entirely
different person because he is prioritizing the interests of his
country, and he's fighting for his interests for his country's interests.
Right now, in the battle between these two countries, we are talking
comprehensively with Putin. At the same time, we are talking comprehensively
with Zelinsky, and at the same time we are talking comprehensively
with Guterres
and Guterres is actually talking.
To all the parties involved. If we are going to reach a conclusion,
we are not going to reach that conclusion by taking sides. We're
not going to defend a single leader. But instead we have to be looking
for a conclusion that will satisfy all parties involved. I understand
what you're saying. At the same time you're saying Putin is doing
Mr Putin is doing what's in the interest of the Russian
People, but does that include killing
Hundreds, thousands and and many, many more of Ukrainian civilians
done. I'm sure the Judy we have to see this for what it is not only
the Ukrainians are dying, but there are so many casualties on the
Russian side as well, but they invaded.
That's a different fact. Yes, it was done prior to the breaking out
of this conflict. Many things had happened. And with the conflict,
things have unfolded tremendously, and now we are seeing a certain
amount of diminishing casualties. The UN has to reach a conclusion
as soon as possible. Upon that conclusion, we will be able to put
forward our stands for what it is. That's why we are taking steps
forward in order to sort out this hostage crisis and at the same
time we are taking necessary steps forward in order to allow you
Iranian grain to leave the ports and we reached a certain level,
so it's not about pushing one person to the one side entirely and
defending the other. This is not how we will cultivate results.
You have blocked the the admission to NATO of both Sweden and Finland
and and raised the issue of people you refer to as Kurdish terrorists.
Um, are you close to resolving this? I know that
they've asked
Turkey had to provide, uh, evidence, uh, that these people you want
them to deal with are terrorists. But are you first of all, are you
close to an agreement and if they don't accept whatever turkey, Turkiye
explains, are you prepared to just permanently block Sweden and Finland
from joining?
You tell him shouldn't be the joke. Samimi here, especially Sweden
has been a cradle for terrorism and the terrorists have infiltrated
all the way into their parliaments. And in Stockholm. We see terrorists
are demonstrating all the time. The banners. The poster of the leader
of the terrorist organizations are abound, demonstrating their throwing
slogans and they're attacking the innocent Turkish descendants in
Stockholm.
And we have given all the evidence relevant to these developments
to our Swedish interlocutors, Finland. On the other hand, there,
not like Sweden. They're a bit more calm, and they have more control
over the developments. But Sweden is not like that. They're always
using certain reasons. They're always using certain excuses. They
always talk about the Constitution and as the reigning principle
of the constitution
They value the freedom of expression. And in return, I say terrorism
has nothing to do with the freedom of expression and the Turkish
Parliament is the eventual decision maker
will be facing the voters of your country next year for reelection.
Uh, do you believe you'll win or could turkey go in another direction?
Under such miracles. I'm gonna We have no concerns about winning
the elections. Nobody will replace us because there is no alternative.
I have to ask you because you're in the United States. And as you
know, we've had an election here in the last
Two years where one of the people who was running did not accept
the results and challenge them.
Could you see something like that happening in Turkey?
We heard them and Holland. Well, these are common things. They happen
all the time. There is losing by a great extent, and there's not
winning. But we are currently in such a position that we will be
able to be triumphant. Last question.
Your relationship with the United States. What shape would you say
it's in
And he
can't say that our relations are ideal. Why? Because our trade volume
with the United States is not supposed to be where it is today and
in the defense industry. We are not at the level that we desire.
For example, we have the outstanding issue of F sixteens. We have
procured F sixteen's from the United States, but instead certain
political decisions are being made resulting in the imposition of
sanctions upon Turkey. This is not very becoming of two friendly
countries such as the U. S and Turkey. We have spoken to the Republicans
and we have received
The support of the Republicans. If we can't get the results out of
the United States about the F sixteens
What are we going to do? Of course we're going to take care of our
own Selves. President Erdogan, Thank you very much for talking with
us. We appreciate it.