Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın: “The U.S. decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran is worrisome”.
Holding a press conference at the Presidential Complex, Presidential Spokesperson Kalın said: “There has now emerged a new situation with the unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the nuclear deal with Iran. As we noted in the statements we made yesterday, we are in favor of maintaining this deal. The unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the deal is worrisome. It might lead to new instabilities, tensions and conflicts in the region.”
Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of the Presidency Ambassador İbrahim Kalın held a press conference at the Presidential Complex.
Spokesperson Kalın stated:
“OUR RESOLUTE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS WILL CONTINUE”
We have been waging a very effective fight against terror especially over the last years. Our resolute fight against internal and external threats as well as the threats originating from the region and against such terrorist organizations as PKK, YPG, PYD, DAESH, Al Qaeda, FETO and DHKP-C will continue.
In this regard, our Operation Olive Branch has established peace and security to a large extent in the Afrin region. Threats originating from that region have been totally destroyed as of now. However, we remain on the alert as always. Our military, police, intelligence, gendarmerie and village guards continue their intensive efforts for Turkey’s internal and external security.
“TURKISH MILITARY IS SETTING UP 12 OBSERVATION POSTS IN IDLIB”
The Turkish military is setting up 12 observation posts in Idlib, an area of potential risk. The 10th of them has been set up as of now. This is of particular importance both for over 2.5 million people who have been squeezed in Idlib and for our own security. Our relevant units have been carrying out necessary works on this issue. The fight against terror will continue in the upcoming period in the most effective manner.
I also would like to bring up a few topics related to foreign policy. We maintain our active and dynamic foreign policy. As you also have seen, we have had a very intensive foreign policy traffic especially over the last few weeks.
President Ilham Aliyev paid his first foreign visit following the elections in Azerbaijan to Turkey on April 24-25. This has gone down in the records as the most beautiful indication of the ancient brotherhood and friendship as well as the historical, cultural and religious ties and political alliance between the two countries.
Later on, we had a tour covering Uzbekistan and South Korea from April 29 to May 3, or May 4 given the date of return.
I would especially like to emphasize the importance of the Uzbekistan leg of this tour. Mr. President has full determination for the strengthening of our relations with the Turkic world at every level. We are especially pleased since this is being done with the new administration in Uzbekistan.
25 agreements were signed during this visit in every area, including transportation, energy, diplomacy and education. Turkish businesspeople will from now on have a better working environment there. This was stated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in a very open and clear manner during the business forum in Tashkent.
After Uzbekistan, we proceeded to South Korea. The timing of our visit to South Korea was especially meaningful since it was the first foreign visit to South Korea right after the rapprochement between the North and the South. South Korean authorities also expressed their pleasure over the visit.
“WE SUPPORT THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA”
On this occasion, I also would like to note that Turkey fully supports the North-South rapprochement. We also fully support the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula. As such, Mr. President stated during his meeting with his South Korean counterpart that Turkey is ready to provide any contribution on this issue. Mr. President’s diplomatic efforts for the South-North rapprochement will continue in the upcoming period, as well.
Besides, the Serbian President paid a visit to Turkey two days ago. This visit is an important example of our 360-degree perspective in foreign policy. On one hand we go to South Korea and Uzbekistan and on the other hand Azerbaijan and Serbia come to us. This weekend, Mr. President will be paying a visit to the U.K. After that, he will go to Bosnia-Herzegovina. These visits are important in that they also confute such criticisms as ‘Turkey is pursuing a unidimensional or unipolar foreign policy,’ or ‘Turkey is moving away from this or that axis.’
“SERBIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT WAS AN IMPORTANT LANDMARK IN TERMS OF ESTABLISHING STABILITY IN THE BALKANS”
The Serbian President’s visit was an important landmark in terms of improving our bilateral relations and establishing security and stability in the Balkans. Especially, the works on Belgrade-Sarajevo highway project, which President Erdoğan described as the ‘Peace Road of the Balkans’, are intensively continuing for its inauguration. We will all see the concrete outcomes of it in the years ahead.
“THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE U.S. FROM THE NUCLEAR DEAL WITH IRAN MIGHT LEAD TO NEW TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS”
Another important development in foreign policy, as you know, is the unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the nuclear deal with Iran. As we noted in the statements we made yesterday, we are in favor of maintaining this deal. The unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the deal is worrisome. It might lead to new instabilities, tensions and conflicts in the region. Unilaterally abolishing or cancelling a deal which was reached as a result of diplomatic initiatives after long negotiations is, doubtlessly, destroying the credibility of the U.S., as well. Since it is a multilateral deal, we, with other countries, are of the opinion that it should be maintained as before. As a matter of fact, various European countries made joint statements on this issue.
“WE DON’T WANT ANY COUNTRY IN THE REGION TO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS”
Let me underline this, as well: We don’t want any country in the region to have nuclear weapons. It is our primary objective to completely clear our region of all nuclear weapons no matter whom they belong to. This includes all countries in the region that is or are known to have nuclear weapons. Therefore, our dialogues and initiatives on this issue will continue, and we will closely follow the case.
Lastly, I would like to talk about the French manifesto, which Mr. President raised yesterday. I’m not going to directly talk about it but about a related issue.
German Federal Ministry of Interior has recently made an official statement that according to 2017 crime statistics report, it was identified that there was a significant surge in anti-Islam hate crimes in 2017. In Germany alone, 1 075 anti-Islam hate crimes were committed last year. Certainly, these attacks are the recorded, reported and official data in hand. Probably, there are more attacks than these.
“THE SOURCE OF ANTI-SEMITISM IS RACIST SPEECHES AND THE FAR RIGHT THAT ARE ON THE RISE IN EUROPE”
Likewise, we see a surge in anti-Semitic hate crimes in parallel with anti-Islam attacks. According to the same report, 1 507 anti-Semitic crimes were committed in Germany in 2017. We see that attacks and similar incidents take place; in other words a 2.5% rise.
Having all these in mind, our message is clear and simple: The source of anti-Semitism is neither Islam nor Muslims, but the far right movements and groups, racist discourses, and hate speeches which are on the rise in Europe. So, instead of making some calls or putting forward some demands and steps about our holy book, the Europeans in question had better first take measures against these far right movements that are on the rise in Europe. They should make efforts to prevent the rise of the far right rather than attacking our book. Because, the source of anti-Semitism and anti-Islam racist hate speeches is neither Muslims nor the book of our holy religion. It is the far right racist hatred speeches which are on the rise in Europe.”
Source: Presidency