Critical statements from President Erdoğan before the NATO summit

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists' questions before departing from Atatürk Airport to attend the NATO Leaders' Summit in Brussels. Erdoğan, who will also meet with US President Biden, commented on the topics discussed and the meeting, saying, "Our discussion area is very broad. Unfortunately, April 24th was a very negative event for us. We did not expect such an approach; it has deeply saddened us. We cannot afford to ignore this." Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements: We are departing for Brussels to attend the NATO Leaders' Summit. We will be participating in a crucial summit where decisions regarding the NATO 2030 process, which will determine the alliance's roadmap for the next 10 years, will be made. NATO is adapting to new circumstances while updating itself in the face of evolving threats. Yesterday's attack on Şifa Hospital in Afrin demonstrated the treacherous and brutal nature of the PKK. Fourteen civilians were martyred and 32 were injured in the attack. We will hold these vile people accountable for the bloodshed. While we protect our own borders, we also protect NATO's borders. The contributions we provide to the alliance in times of need are a cornerstone of Türkiye's place. We believe that Türkiye's role within the alliance will become even more important. OFFICIAL VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN Following the NATO Summit, I will be paying an official visit to Azerbaijan with my brother Aliyev, following his invitation. During the process, Azerbaijan achieved a historic victory in Karabakh, ending a 30-year occupation. I watched the Victory Parade in Baku on December 10, 2020. This time, we will travel to the lands where victory was won. We hope to visit Shusha. Aliyev and I will also be watching our national football team's match against Wales on June 16. BIDEN MEETING First and foremost, US-Turkey relations need to be addressed. We will put the rumors behind us and discuss what we need to do. Unfortunately, April 24th was a very negative event. This approach has deeply saddened us. We cannot afford to ignore this. Turkey is not an ordinary country. Turkey is a NATO ally of the US. The fact that these two allies have taken a hostile approach towards us regarding Armenians, who have no connection to NATO, has disturbed us. This cannot be ignored. Many issues regarding the defense industry remain on the table. The most important of these is the F-35 issue. Unfortunately, while Turkey has fulfilled its commitments regarding the F-35, there is a US that has not fulfilled its commitments. There is a Turkey that has made its payments. Despite significantly purchasing parts from Türkiye, there is a Turkey that has provided approximately 700-750 parts. Five F-35s were provided, but these F-45s were not seized. CENTRAL BANK RESERVES The foreign exchange reserves at our Central Bank have reached $100 billion. Countries trade in their local currencies through currency swap agreements. We recently signed a significant agreement with China. We previously had a $2.4 billion swap agreement with China. With a $3.6 billion agreement, we increased this figure to $6 billion. This was a significant leap forward for Türkiye. COMBATTING MUSILLAGE Last night, we issued the circular. We established the Marmara Sea Action Coordination Board. Two days ago, we met with our academics, organized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Currently, 1,700 cubic meters of mucilage have been removed from 77 locations. Intensive work is ongoing. Work will continue on a 24/7 basis. Based on the mucilage's condition, if it is suitable for fertilizer, it can be used as fertilizer. The established teams will make the final decision. The matter will be decided after the meticulous work of the committee we have established here. It will take some time, but God willing, we will succeed. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CNN TURK YOUTUBE CHANNEL ➤ https://bit.ly/2LzuZ1H ➤FOR ALL PROGRAM CONTENT: https://www.cnnturk.com/tv ➤  / cnnturk   ➤  / cnnturkprogram   ➤  / cnnturk   ➤  / cnnturkprogr.  . ➤  / cnnturk   ➤   / cnnturk   #CNNTÜRK #BreakingNews #PresidentErdogan