Presidency of the Republic of Turkey

07/01/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2022 07:30

President Erdoğan performs Friday prayer in Istanbul

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan performed Friday prayer at Hz. Ali Mosque in Istanbul.

The President answered reporters' questions following the prayer.

Asked about his opinion regarding some international media outlets' description of the NATO's Madrid Summit as a victory of Türkiye's, President Erdoğan noted that the situation regarding Sweden and Finland's bid to join NATO is an invitation process rather than a membership, and added: "What have we done concerning this invitation? We have said 'yes'."

NATO SUMMIT

Underlining that this invitation is subject to certain conditions, President Erdoğan stated: "What have we done with these conditions? We have incorporated them into the memorandum. We held a quadrilateral meeting on the first day when we arrived for the NATO Summit. Our relevant officials had already conducted the relevant works a day earlier and their works were brought in front of us. Following the meeting we had as the leaders, we said 'let the officials resume the talks'. Accordingly, they held another meeting and after their meeting we incorporated the necessary conditions, particularly on the issues of terrorism and terrorists, into this memorandum. These conditions were accepted."

Describing the inclusion of the fight against the PYD/YPG and FETO terrorist organizations besides the fight against the PKK terrorist organization in NATO's memorandum of understanding as a success in the name of Türkiye, President Erdoğan said that Ankara recounted the activities of the terrorist organizations as well as the fight against terrorism with documents and footages during the summit.

"GREECE DOESN'T KEEP ITS PROMISES"

Asked about whether he would like to respond to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' remarks, President Erdoğan stressed that Türkiye doesn't seek war with Greece, and added: "However, Greece doesn't keep its promises. This is the problem."

Drawing attention to Greece's 147 violations of the Turkish airspace in a short span of time, President Erdoğan stated that the Turkish Armed Forces does what it is supposed to do in the face of such violations.