Turkish, Russian presidents to meet in Sochi

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin will meet in Russian city on Feb. 14

Politics 09:23 04.02.2019

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will meet on Feb. 14 in Russia's coastal city of Sochi, where they will discuss Syria.

"We will meet with Putin on Feb. 14 in Sochi," Erdogan told Turkish state broadcaster TRT News in an exclusive interview on Sunday.

The president said Turkey, Russia and Iran will hold the second Syria summit in Sochi and hoped that the summit would contribute to the situation in Syria. 

Erdogan, Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani first met in Sochi in 2017.

Turkey and Russia, together with Iran, are the guarantor countries which brokered a cease-fire in Syria in December 2016, leading to the Astana talks, which are running parallel to the Geneva talks.

Erdogan said a Turkish delegation just returned from Russia with progress on Syrian agenda.

"We hope that this positive development will ensure the [terrorist] organizations to leave here [Syria] and rightful owners to return to their lands," he added.

The president said that around 300,000 Syrian people returned from Turkey to their lands so far.

Erdogan criticized Washington’s failure to leave Syria's Manbij within 90 days as previously promised and signaled a possible operation east of Euphrates River.

"I hope that they fulfill this shortly because we do not want to live under threat. That is why we have all the preparations ready if we see the signs of threat," he added.

In recent days, Turkish officials said Turkey has completed all preparations for an operation east of the Euphrates in northern Syria, which Ankara said would serve territorial integrity in the war-torn country.

Turkey backs Syrian territorial integrity

"Turkey’s policy in northern Syria centers on Syria’s territorial integrity and political unity. In other words, we are against breaking up the Syrian people," Erdogan said.

Since 2016, Turkey’s Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in northwestern Syria have liberated the region from YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists, including Al-Bab, Afrin and Azaz, making it possible for Syrians who fled the violence there to return home. 

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG/PYD is the group's Syrian branch.

Erdogan said the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey has organic ties to PKK/YPG/PYD terror group.

"The HDP is equal to PKK and that is equal to YPG and PYD. No ifs and buts, it is the truth," he added.

'FETO operations to continue'

About Turkey's fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, Erdogan said the operations against the terror group will continue.

"There are more operations to be carried out. They still exist in state institutions, in our police, military and other places. Therefore, it is not easy. It is like a metastasis," he said.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Erdogan said that the recents efforts by the FBI could affect the U.S.' decision to extradite Gulen to Turkey.

Ankara has long sought the extradition of Gulen and expressed frustration with delays on the U.S. side.

Murder of Suadi journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Regarding the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi early October at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Erdogan reiterated Turkey's commitment to the issue and demanded answers from Saudi Arabia.

"We want everything to come to light. There is a savagery at stake, a murder. Why are you hiding it?" he added.

Erdogan said that the murder was planned by 22 people, 15 of whom arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate on the day of the killing.

"What they [Saudi Arabia] say is '22 people are arrested now'. Despite this, we have some information. They might have taken some of them out. They might be victims of traffic accidents. Because the system there is working very weird," he said.

Erdogan also criticized the U.S.’ silence on the issue, saying: "I cannot understand the silence of the U.S. in the face of all this savagery. We have had the U.S. intelligence listen to the audio tape and the CIA director [Gina Haspel] briefed the Senate. Our intelligence president [Hakan Fidan] also briefed seven senators."

Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post, was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After producing various contradictory explanations, Riyadh acknowledged he was killed inside the consulate building, blaming the act on a botched rendition operation.

Turkey has sought the extradition of the Saudi citizens involved in the killing as well as a fuller accounting of the killing from Riyadh.

Hikmat Hajiyev: "Azerbaijan is a natural link connecting Central Asia and Europe" - VIDEO

News line

Russian ambassador sees no reasons to expect Russian-US ties to improve
15:36 29.03.2024
British army lifts ban on serving soldiers having beards
British army lifts ban on serving soldiers having beards
15:29 29.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: "Azerbaijan is a natural link connecting Central Asia and Europe" - VIDEO
15:13 29.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 30
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 30
15:00 29.03.2024
Tajikistan detains 9 people over Russian concert shooting
Tajikistan detains 9 people over Russian concert shooting
14:46 29.03.2024
Washington Is Forming A New Alliance - OPINION
14:32 29.03.2024
Individuals identified as drug users will not be admitted for service in Azerbaijani tax authorities
14:14 29.03.2024
Philippines' Catholic devotees nailed to crosses to re-enact crucifixion
Philippines' Catholic devotees nailed to crosses to re-enact crucifixion
14:00 29.03.2024
Umud Mirzayev: EU's South Caucasus Visit Aims to Maintain Regional Influence
13:45 29.03.2024
Public Television of Armenia Reveals Villages to be Returned to Azerbaijan
13:39 29.03.2024
Death toll of Israeli strike in Syria rises to 42, war monitor says - UPDATED
13:25 29.03.2024
Azerbaijan toughens penalties for non-compliance with rules of state of emergency regime
Azerbaijan toughens penalties for non-compliance with rules of state of emergency regime
13:12 29.03.2024
How will the EU's visit to the South Caucasus affect the peace process? - Former ambassador talks to Ednews
13:00 29.03.2024
Azerbaijan tightens sanctions for breaching special operation zone rules on religious extremism
12:45 29.03.2024
Azerbaijan toughens penalties for non-compliance with rules of social emergency environment regime
12:33 29.03.2024
About $7 bln of foreign direct investment was invested in Azerbaijan last year
12:00 29.03.2024
Number of people injured in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack reaches 382
11:48 29.03.2024
Media: Netanyahu rejected the Mossad Chief's proposal for a possible agreement in Gaza
11:37 29.03.2024
Azerbaijani Parliament's meeting kicks off
11:26 29.03.2024
An American couple founded a website, which identifies brands that support Israel
An American couple founded a website, which identifies brands that support Israel
11:07 29.03.2024
US scientists name infection more dangerous for brain than coronavirus
US scientists name infection more dangerous for brain than coronavirus
11:00 29.03.2024
Parviz Shahbazov: Foundations of 4 new renewable energy plants will be laid this year
Parviz Shahbazov: Foundations of 4 new renewable energy plants will be laid this year
10:50 29.03.2024
Japan eyes self-driving expressway lane network
10:40 29.03.2024
Oil prices end 1Q24 with strong growth
10:30 29.03.2024
SECRETS of the European Union's visit to the South Caucasus - Fikret Sadigov EXPLAINS
10:25 29.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
10:10 29.03.2024
Iran’s top diplomat: Military presence of third countries in Caspian Sea goes against interests of region
Iran’s top diplomat: Military presence of third countries in Caspian Sea goes against interests of region
10:00 29.03.2024
Armenia officially announces freezing its participation in CSTO
09:50 29.03.2024
US hopes to return to purchase of 72 fighter jets per year amid budget cuts
09:38 29.03.2024
Another 138 IDPs leave for Fuzuli
09:28 29.03.2024
Netanyahu: "We have strategic assets of Hamas"
09:17 29.03.2024
Date of next meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Parliament Speakers announced
09:00 29.03.2024
Russia prepares for new offensive in May-June l – says Zelensky
23:52 28.03.2024
Russian investigators have evidence of Ukraine link to Crocus terrorists
22:24 28.03.2024
Committee members of the EU Council will visit the South Caucasus region
19:48 28.03.2024
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
19:00 28.03.2024
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
18:33 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan, UN Development Program mull future co-op
18:00 28.03.2024
An Independent Trade Union Established within International Eurasia Press Fund - First in NGO sector - PHOTOS
17:39 28.03.2024
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
17:23 28.03.2024
Hamısı