Erdoğan: I cannot say that we had a good start with Biden

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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In the US for the 76th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the reporters at a press conference at the "Türkevi", which was opened in New York on September 20.

Referring to Turkey-US relations, Erdoğan has said that "the current point of relations is unfortunately not good," adding, "I worked well with President Bush Jr., I worked well with Mr. Obama, I worked well with Mr. Trump. But I cannot say that we had a good start with Mr. Biden." He has indicated that "the state of affairs" between Turkey and the US "doesn't bode well."

Regarding the "S-400 vs. F35" debate, President Erdoğan has underlined that this debate is now over for them. "We purchased F-35s. We made a payment of 1 billion 400 million dollars and these F-35s have not been delivered to us. The US must handle it first," he has said, accusing the US of "using Turkey's purchase of S-400s from Russia as an excuse."

Erdoğan has also shared information about his meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin on September 29. He has noted that there will not be a meeting between the delegations, but a bilateral talk between him and Putin. According to Erdoğan, the talks will not only address Syria's Idlib, but there will be an overall evaluation of the state of affairs in Syria and its aftermath.

"When I say two important countries, I must note that we have not seen anything wrong in the relations with Russia," Erdoğan has said.

'We have already solved the Kurdish question'

In response to a question regarding "who the interlocutor is in resolving the Kurdish question," which was sparked by main opposition CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's statement that "it could be resolved with the HDP", President and AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated, "We say that the People's Alliance is the only point of resolution for this issue and we, as the People's Alliance, have been waging a struggle for this resolution."

"Because there is unity, solidarity and fraternity in our book," he has said, arguing that "there is no such an issue in Turkey": "We have already resolved, overcome and ended this issue. If there are those who believe in unity, solidarity and fraternity, we can move forward together."

Social media legislation

Erdoğan has also said that the works for a new social media legislation are still ongoing, announcing that it will be submitted to the Parliament when the Parliament opens. "I wish that the steps that we will take about social media will be beneficial for our country and nation," he has said, adding, "Because the destruction caused by social media is so loud and clear. I am in favor of an end to this destruction. And I believe that it is time to bring this destruction to an end." (KÖ/SD)