President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made remarkable statements to CNN International’s Becky Anderson about the Turkish elections.
“I think our people will not let us down,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told CNN International, emphasizing that he was confident about the second round of the Turkish elections. Erdogan criticized US President Joe Biden for calling him an ‘autocrat’ and said ‘we are not ready for Sweden’s NATO membership right now’.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made remarkable statements to CNN International’s Becky Anderson about the Turkish elections.
Speaking in an exclusive interview at Dolmabahçe Palace, President Erdoğan said, “My current opponent has participated in 15 elections against us. He lost every time. The second round of elections will be next Sunday. I am sure that my nation will act in the name of a strong Turkish democracy. And I think that our people will not let us down.”
TURKEY-RUSSIA RELATIONS
Turkey has a special and growing relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite growing pressure on Ankara to help strengthen Western sanctions against Moscow, Erdogan said in an exclusive interview ahead of the second round of presidential elections next week.
‘We are not at a point where we will impose sanctions on Russia as the West has done,’ Erdogan said;
“We are not dependent on Western sanctions. We are a strong state and we have positive relations with Russia’
Erdogan underlined that Russia and Turkey need each other in every field.
Commenting on the two-month extension of the grain corridor agreement, Erdogan said, “This was possible because of our special relationship with President Putin.
REACTION TO US PRESIDENT BİDEN
Erdoğan criticized US President Joe Biden for calling him an ‘autocrat’ and said, “Would a dictator enter the second round of elections?
“WE ARE NOT READY FOR SWEDEN RIGHT NOW”
Regarding Sweden’s accession to NATO, Erdoğan said: “As long as Sweden allows the branches of terrorist organizations in Turkey to roam freely in Sweden, on the streets of Stockholm, we cannot look positively at Sweden’s NATO membership.
‘We are not ready for Sweden at the moment,’ Erdoğan said;
‘Because a NATO country should have a strong stance when it comes to the fight against terrorism.
“THE MAY 28 ELECTION IS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR TURKISH DEMOCRACY”
‘This is a new experience for Turkish democracy,’ Erdoğan said of the second round of elections on May 28. ‘I believe that my people will take the stage for a strong democracy in the elections next Sunday,’ he said.
CNN reported that ‘Erdogan held a nearly five-point lead over Kilicdaroglu in the first round of elections on May 14’ and underlined that the People’s Alliance also won the parliamentary majority.
“NO ONE IN TURKEY IS BEHIND BARS FOR THEIR OPINIONS”
‘No one in Turkey is behind bars because of their ideas,’ Erdoğan told CNN in the interview, adding that he expected his party’s strong performance in the parliamentary contest to boost its chances in the presidential runoff.
Stating that the Turkish people will not adopt an attitude such as separate parliament and separate president, Erdoğan said: “Stability and trust are very important. Those who seek stability will do what is necessary at the ballot box.
“WE HAVE SEEN THE RESULTS OF THE STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN”
President Erdoğan made the following assessment about the decision to cut interest rates;
‘I have a thesis that interest rates and inflation are positively correlated. The lower the interest rates, the lower the inflation. We have seen the results of the steps we have taken.
SNAN OĞAN EVALUATION
When asked about the theses that Sinan Oğan would be decisive in the second round, Erdoğan said, “I am not a person who likes to negotiate in this way.
REFUGEE PROBLEM
Erdoğan said he would encourage around one million refugees to return to Syria, amid opposition calls for a comprehensive deportation of refugees.
He said Turkey was building infrastructure and houses in northern Syria to facilitate their repatriation.
‘Turkish NGOs are building houses for refugees in northern Syria so that they can return to their homeland. This process has already started. We are encouraging one million refugees to return to their homeland.
“THE ONLY REASON FOR OUR MILITARY PRESENCE ON THE BORDER IS THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM”
Referring to the terrorist organization in northeastern Syria, Erdoğan said: “Thanks to my friendship with Putin, we thought that we could open a door that requires close cooperation and solidarity, especially in our fight against terrorism in northern Syria.
Underlining that Turkey will maintain its presence in northern Syria, Erdoğan said;
‘We have more than 900 kilometers of border and there is a constant terrorist threat on our country from these borders. The only reason for our military presence on the border is the fight against terrorism. This is the only reason.’
