Turkish president said 4,000 sq km of area was cleared of terrorists during Turkey’s operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Tree, and the work carried out with Russia and Iran for the security of Idlib region was now at a significant stage.

He said Turkey acted with great sensitivity by not harming any civilian during the operations; however, the picture is different in all regions of Syria was different as the powers of countries, which are acting with both regime forces and terrorists.

He said he was in “great sorrow” over the violence in eastern Gouta and Douma.

Yemen and Libya
Erdogan said the crisis in Yemen had become a more complicated problem in its fourth year.

“We are in favor of an inclusive political solution based on Yemen’s territorial integrity,” he said.

He added terrorist organizations such as Daesh and al-Qaeda benefit from the humanitarian crisis and chaos in this country.

On Libya, Erdogan said Turkey supports the Libyan people, presidency council and the national consensus government trying to establish an agreement and to reconstruct the country.

FETO
Erdogan said Turkey was continuing its struggle against Fetullah Terrorist Organization; the crimes of this organization, including the July 15 defeated coup were just the tip of the iceberg.

“The ambitions of this organization… threaten the whole world,” he said, calling all countries, including the U.K., to deport back the members of FETO to Turkey.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 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, especially the military, police, and judiciary.

UN
Erdogan reiterated his previous calls that the UN Security Council should be formed in a rotating system of the 196 member states, saying “if we are looking for justice and if the UN is established on justice, we need to do as necessary”.

" We will either become each other’s wolf and eat and finish up one another or we will find a remedy to our problems together.

“The world is bigger than five [UN Security Council permanent members],” he added.

He also pointed out that Turkey leads the world in humanitarian aid if the aids were calculated in proportion to national gross income, and it is followed by the U.S. and U.K.

EU
About Turkey’s aspirations to gain EU membership, the Turkish president said Turkey has a historical depth in its relations with Europe.

He said Turkey has fulfilled its responsibilities in a sincere way from the start but the negotiation process has been politicized and hardened.

Erdogan also said Turkey sees the Balkans not as a region of influence but as a region of cooperation.

On the Cyprus issue, Erdogan said the Turkish side, with strong support from Turkey, has shown effort towards a solution in the last half-a-century.

" But if the Greek side insists on their one-sided hydrocarbon activities in Eastern Mediterranean, security and stability in the region will be under constant danger

he said.

“I am saying this openly and clearly,” he added.

President Erdogan will continue his UK visit and he will meet Prince of Wales and British investors in separate meetings on Monday.

He will also meet Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday.

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