Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that it is not possible for the partnership between NATO and Israel to continue, “which violates the basic values of our alliance.”
Erdogan said, in a press conference last night on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the US capital, Washington: “The Netanyahu government, with its expansionist and reckless policies, is not only endangering the security of its citizens, but also the security of the entire region.”
The Turkish President stressed that Ankara “will not agree to initiatives aimed at NATO cooperation with Israel, until a comprehensive and sustainable peace is achieved in Palestine and that “it is unacceptable for military support to Israel to continue at a time when the consciences of the world take to the streets to stop attacks on Palestinian civilians.”
Erdogan pointed out that in all his meetings during the NATO summit, he drew attention to the ongoing atrocities in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza, stressing the need fo
r members of the international community to unite for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
Erdogan recalled that Turkey had filed a complaint against Israel with South Africa to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and called on other countries to file complaints against Israel as well.
In another aspect, Erdogan indicated that Turkey expects solidarity from its allies regarding the fight against terrorism, which is one of the two main threats identified by the alliance, stressing that this is what the alliance law requires.”
Erdogan said: “We cannot accept the distorted relationship that some of our allies have established, especially with the terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers’ Party.”
Regarding Turkey’s purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States, Erdogan explained that he spoke with his American counterpart Joe Biden, who told him: “I will solve this problem in 3 to 4 weeks.”
Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, Erdogan indicated that the NATO-Ukraine Council mee
ting in Washington was useful in confirming the alliance’s and allies’ support for Kiev, explaining that Turkey fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
The Turkish President stressed the need not to rule out diplomacy and that negotiations do not mean surrender, saying: “I expressed my view clearly that NATO should not be allowed to become a party to the war in Ukraine.”
Erdogan added: “We will continue to maintain with all determination the balanced, calm and fair stance that we have shown since the first day of the conflicts between our two neighbors,” noting that Turkey has been intensively continuing its efforts “since the first day to end this war, the devastating effects of which have been felt by everyone and which endangers our common security.”
He stated that Turkey’s sincere desire is to resume the talks “that began in Istanbul and culminated in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and to give diplomacy a chance,” adding: “We believe that there will be no losers in a just
peace.”
Source: National Iraqi News Agency