The spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayop Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, said that Turkey would not back down over the purchase of the Russian S-400 defense system, for which the United States has imposed sanctions on Ankara.
In an interview with the state-run TRT Haber television channel, Ibrahim Kalin said Ankara would seek to resolve any issues with the United States, a NATO ally, through dialogue.
Washington imposed sanctions on Turkey over the purchase of the S-400 in December. On Tuesday, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Ankara could propose partial activation of the system in its negotiations with the United States.
Speaking to TRT Haber, Kalin claimed yesterday that Akar’s statement was “misunderstood” without giving further details. He added that talks were under way with Washington on the two sides’ differences, but quick solutions to the problems should not be expected on a number of issues.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said yesterday that Turkey would take part in negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue, discussing only a proposal for the establishment of two states, and that previous failed proposals should not be put on the agenda.
The Turkish president said yesterday that the only way to resolve the dispute over Cyprus was to establish two states on the island and that the creation of a federation, backed by Athens, would not be on the agenda of the upcoming talks.
“We cannot discuss the things we have been discussing for 40 years, for another 40 years,” Ibrahim Kalin said in an interview with the state-run TRT Haber television channel, referring to decades of failed talks on the Cyprus issue.
Source: ANA-MPA
