Erdogan: We are not closed to meeting with Assad

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference at Atatürk Airport before his visit to the Gulf countries.

Erdoğan also touched upon the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement, which Russia announced its withdrawal, and relations with Syria.

Stating that “crises in the Islamic world require close consultation and cooperation between Turkey and the Gulf countries,” President Erdoğan said, “Our bilateral trade volume with the Gulf countries has increased from $ 1.6 billion to approximately $ 22 billion in the last 20 years,” Anadolu Agency reported. shared his knowledge. Referring to the Kremlin’s statement regarding the grain corridor agreement, Erdogan said, “Despite the statement made today, I believe that Russian President Putin wants this humanitarian bridge to continue.” Erdogan also made a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘without waiting for August’ and gave the message that relevant steps could be taken.

We Will Not Leave Northern Syria

Answering the question about the normalization steps with Syria, Erdogan pointed to Syrian President Bashar Assad and said, “Right now, Assad in Syria wants Turkey to leave Northern Syria. There is no such thing. We are fighting against terrorism there. ” said.

Recalling that Syria was taken back to the Arab League after 12 years and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Damascus on Sunday, July 16, a journalist asked whether the Turkey-Russia-Iran-Syria quadrilateral summits would continue. Upon being asked, Erdogan said, “You know, we are not in a situation to close the door with Syria, the door is open. This is about quadruple summits, we should also hold these quadruple summits, but we are not closed at the point of meeting with Bashar Assad. See you. That’s the whole point. their approach to us,” he said.

President Erdoğan continued his words as follows: “Right now, Assad in Syria wants Turkey to leave Northern Syria, unfortunately. Such a thing cannot happen. Because we are fighting terrorism there. I mean, how do we get out when these terrorists are on our borders? Can it be used in different countries? That’s why we are looking for a fair approach. As long as there is a fair approach, we will overcome all issues.”