Normalization process with Egypt: We can make a decision on the appointment of ambassador

Çavuşoğlu talked to a group of Turkish journalists about the developments in foreign policy at Türkevi in ​​New York, where he came to attend the Special Session of the 30 March International Zero Waste Day at the United Nations.

When asked about the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Turkey, Çavuşoğlu said that Lavrov, who wants to visit Turkey after the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, will have the opportunity to discuss different dimensions of bilateral relations during his visit on April 6-7.

Recalling that Russia provided a lot of help after the earthquakes, Çavuşoğlu gave the following information:

„We have issues to talk about in a broad sense. Besides bilateral relations, there is the extension of the grain agreement. We also had a meeting with the UN Secretary General on Thursday (March 30). „We are working on it. Russia said ‚yes‘ to the 60-day extension of the grain agreement. 120 days is not clear at the moment, we will talk about it.“

Noting that in the meeting with Lavrov, Syria, Libya and other regional issues will also be discussed, Çavuşoğlu stated that the political process in Syria, the situation of refugees and increasing humanitarian aid to be made there after the earthquakes will be evaluated.

„The meeting of the four will take place in Moscow“

Çavuşoğlu said, „You know, an engagement process started with Syria under the hosting and facilitation of Russia. Later, Iran was also involved in this process. Some of you were present during our visit to Egypt and we told you that the meeting at the level of deputy ministers in Egypt was postponed. Now the date of that meeting has become clear. „The four-way meeting at the deputy minister level will take place in Moscow on April 3-4,“ he said.

Expressing that there has been an acceleration in the normalization process with Egypt recently, Çavuşoğlu said that there has been no problem in economic and commercial relations until now, and that they are making efforts to completely normalize political relations.

Çavuşoğlu stated that both sides are working on the date for the meeting at the level of leaders, and that a decision can be made regarding the reappointment of ambassadors if this prolongs.

Stating that there was a positive atmosphere in relations with Greece after the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, Çavuşoğlu stated that in order for this positive atmosphere to be permanent, both sides should avoid steps that increase tension.

Minister Çavuşoğlu said, „There are historical problems that we cannot agree on, agree on or solve. Some of them are complex. There should be a sincere working environment in solving them. everybody knows,” he said.

Referring to the problem of equitable sharing of the hydrocarbon riches around the island within the scope of the Cyprus issue, Çavuşoğlu said that the lack of a permanent solution in Cyprus is always a reason for tension.

„We anticipate that there may be positive results in delivering the F-16“

When asked whether there is a bottleneck in the ongoing F-16 process between the United States and Turkey, Minister Çavuşoğlu said, „Actually, there is no complete blockage. We know that the administration is making sincere efforts. We have prepared the necessary kits for the F-16 delivery to Turkey or for the modernization of existing aircraft. „There are those who are against the Congress, but we know that the administration is also making efforts towards those who are against it. We anticipate that there may be positive results.“ gave the answer.

Çavuşoğlu stated that the Joe Biden administration in the USA should primarily remove the objections in Congress regarding the F-16 issue, and that a solution could be found through dialogue with the members of Congress who oppose the sale of F-16 aircraft to Turkey.

„It is obvious that the USA provides all kinds of weapons and training support to the YPG/PKK in Syria“

In response to the question about the helicopter carrying PKK members, which took off from the northeast of Syria and crashed in Northern Iraq, Çavuşoğlu said:

„It is clear and obvious that the USA provides all kinds of weapon support, equipment support and training support to the YPG/PKK in Syria. They do not hide this anyway. They also have a cover, that is ‚fight against DEASH‘. there is?‘ ‚ There are DAESH members in prisons, they are under surveillance, so that is important.‘ They say, ‚Let’s evacuate the place, send them all to their country, will the terrorist organization be supported just for this?‘ We say. Of course, who these helicopters belong to is important. Who bought them, who allocated them, who made them use them?“

Minister Çavuşoğlu, when asked whether the US was aware of the helicopters departing from northeast Syria, said, „This part is important. Who bought these helicopters from whom and then who made them use them? How did they train the terrorists to use the helicopter? But in the end, the airspace of that region „Whose control is America? Therefore, if the airspace is under my control, it is within my knowledge whether a drone passes by or a bird flies. It is not possible for a helicopter to take off without permission from the authority that controls the airspace.“

Çavuşoğlu also reminded that the US side issued its condolences regarding the crashed helicopter.

Asked if the US soldiers are in Syria and whether the US Chief of Staff met with PKK members during his visit to the region last month, Çavuşoğlu said that the US side told them „we definitely did not meet“ on this issue, and that if there is a photograph or document about this, under normal conditions, YPG members will be killed. He said they believe they will leak it to legitimize themselves by not missing this opportunity.

Çavuşoğlu said, „After all, what is important is the American soldiers here, what are they doing here? „He is visiting his soldiers who train PKK members,“ he said.