Erdogan’s Fierce Retort to Euronews Reporter: Your Ignorance about Turkey
Erdogan Addresses Journalists Following NATO Summit
After the conclusion of the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, President Erdogan took the time to answer questions from journalists. During the press conference, he touched upon various topics including Sweden’s membership, his meeting with President Biden, and the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
One journalist from Euronews asked Erdogan about the reforms he plans to pursue regarding Turkey’s EU membership process, particularly in relation to the Congress’s insistence on certain conditions such as non-aggression towards Cyprus and Greece. The journalist also expressed concerns about democracy and human rights in Turkey.
Erdogan responded to the question in a striking manner. He expressed his disappointment with the journalist’s lack of understanding about Turkey and its values. He emphasized that Turkey does not have any issues with democracy, rights, and freedoms. He highlighted the high voter turnout in the country’s elections, with the most recent election witnessing an 88 percent turnout, which is a rarity globally. Erdogan defended Turkey’s commitment to rights and freedoms, and attributed any disturbances to the actions of terrorist organizations.
Regarding the subject of F-16s, Erdogan mentioned his meeting with Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece, earlier that day. He clarified that Turkey does not seek to create enemies but rather aims to build friendships. Erdogan reiterated that the goal of the meeting with Mitsotakis was to strengthen their friendship and ensure peace in the region. He emphasized that F-16s have never been and will never be used in a direction that promotes hostility.
In other news related to the NATO Summit, the decision of the final day was announced, which is expected to have significant implications for the future of the alliance. Additionally, Erdogan’s meeting with Mitsotakis marked a significant development in their bilateral relations, as they had not met for 16 months prior to this encounter. However, a scheduled meeting with German officials was canceled.
Overall, Erdogan’s press conference following the NATO Summit shed light on various important matters concerning Turkey’s foreign relations, EU membership, and commitment to democracy and human rights. The statements made by the President aimed to dispel misconceptions and highlight Turkey’s efforts to maintain friendly relationships with other nations.
