* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)
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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered the questions of journalists and academics on a special broadcast of NTV yesterday (January 26).
Referring to the recent snowfall and blizzards in İstanbul, which caused major disruptions in daily life and traffic, Erdoğan criticized Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of the opposition-led Metropolitan Municipality of İstanbul, saying that "scenes that İstanbul didn't deserve unfolded."
He also commented on his remarks targeting musician Sezen Aksu over a song at a mosque last week, when he said, "No one can defame his holiness, Adam. It is our duty, when the time comes, to rip out the tongues of those who defame him. No one can defame her holiness Eve."
President Erdoğan, this time, said: "We had better indicate a fact here very clearly. The interlocutor of my address was not Sezen Aksu. Sezen Aksu is a prominent figure in Turkish music, okay. But, on the other hand, I, as the president of the country, do not let anyone speak ill of the religious values, I mean, the sacreds of our people, regardless of their beliefs.
"I uttered the expression of 'ripping out tongues' not against someone personally, but as a stance on [the ones] against the sacreds."
Arrest of journalist Sedef Kabaş
President and AKP Chair Erdoğan also talked about the recent arrest of journalist Sedef Kabaş after being detained at midnight for "insulting the President" over her words during a television program.
"In every country, it is a crime to insult Presidents," said Erdoğan, adding:
"As the son of this nation, I am a President elected by [receiving] 52 percent of votes. As a matter of fact, this insult is against the nation itself. This insult here is, above all else, not about me personally, but about the position that I represent. The targeting of the state, the President who governs the state and the position of Presidency is the case here.
"We are obliged to protect the dignity of the position of the Presidency and the nation's will. The position that I hold requires this."
He further said, "Whatever the law entails and no matter what its consequences will be, the necessary will be done here. There is of course criticism in politics. But it should be in a clean language."
Erdoğan 'ready to host Ukraine, Russia'
As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), President and AKP Chair Erdoğan also reiterated that he is ready to host the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to "pave the way for re-establishing peace" as tensions between the two countries show little sign of diminishing.
"Turkey wants tensions between Russia and Ukraine to be resolved before they turn into a new crisis," said Erdoğan, adding, "I hope that Russia will not resort to an armed attack and occupation of Ukraine."
Such a move, he said, could not be "rational" for Russia and the region, stressing "Turkey's desire for regional peace and stability."
Erdoğan also announced that he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey, but the date is yet to be set. He, meanwhile, reiterated Turkey's "clear" commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Iranian gas supply
On the disruption of gas imports from Iran, Erdoğan said that "Turkey was not in debt to Iran", stressing that such accusations are "lies."
He said he spoke to his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi about the issue. Full gas flow will resume in 10-15 days, Erdoğan said.
On the Eastern Mediterranean (EastMed) Pipeline, a planned gas pipeline that would ferry Israeli gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Greece, President Erdoğan indicated that "any project that disregards Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean cannot be successful."
Saying that the EastMed is "technically and commercially unfeasible," he welcomed the US decision to withdraw its support from the project.
"Talks between US officials and Ministry of National Defense officials over the F-35s are developing in a positive direction," Erdoğan said.
Relations with Gulf countries
Saying that Turkey has achieved "a good momentum in relations with the Gulf countries," he noted that his country's "principled and well-intentioned attitude towards the Gulf region" is being better understood.
He further cited the "strong cultural, economic ties" with the region, adding Ankara prioritizes dialogue and consensus. "We will make the best of this serious cooperation potential," added Erdoğan.
Touching on his forthcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in February, he said "February 14 is an important date for us. Hopefully our visit to the UAE on this date will be the beginning of a new era." (TP/SD)
