At UN speech, Turkey's Erdogan slams use of economic sanctions as ‘weapons’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to criticize the use of sanctions as “weapons” against countries in an implicit reference to the United States.

“None of us can remain silent to the arbitrary cancellation of commercial agreements and the use of economic sanctions as weapons,” Erdogan told the 73rd session of the General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

The Turkish leader also warned of the repercussions of “unilateral decisions” for the entire world.

“The negative effects of these twisted developments will eventually affect all countries. We must all work together to prevent damage to the world trade regime as a result of such unilateral decisions,” he said.

Erdogan further underlined the need for joint cooperation “to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals” and avoid a “new economic rupture.”

The remarks come amid a widening rift between Turkey and the US over Ankara’s imprisonment of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

He has been accused of having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the movement of US-based opposition cleric Fetullah Gulen, which Turkey blames for the 2016 failed military coup. 

The US has called for Brunson’s release and taken a series of punitive measures against Turkey over the continued detainment of the evangelical Christian pastor.

PressTV-Turkey will not surrender to US economic coup: Erdogan

The Turkish president says his country will not surrender to the US economic coup against Ankara.

The US measures, which include imposing sanctions on Turkish ministers and doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs, have led to a sharp decline in the Turkish currency. Turkey has retaliated by raising tariffs on certain US imports.

“Today, some countries are persistently trying to create chaos. We are in favor of solving our problems through conducting a constructive dialogue on equal terms,” Erdogan said.

‘Syria should become peaceful once again’

Elsewhere in his address, the Turkish president pointed to his country’s diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the crisis in Syria.

“By means of both our support to the Geneva and Astana Processes and the safe zones,...we try to make Syria a peaceful country once again. By clearing the Jarabulus and al-Rai regions from Daesh, and Afrin region from PKK-PYD-YPG terrorist organizations, we have turned an area of 4 thousand kilometers into a safe and peaceful place for millions of Syrians,” he said.

Turkey has been serving – along with Iran and Russia – as a mediator in the Astana process since January 2017.

Erdogan also called on all the parties to the Syria crisis to support a just and sustainable political solution to the conflict gripping the Arab country.

“Those who equip terrorists with tens of thousands of trucks and thousands of cargo planes loaded with arms for the sake of their tactical interests will most definitely feel sorrow in the future,” he added.

The US and Turkey have also been at odds over Washington’s policy of backing Kurdish militants in Syria.

‘Turkey will continue to support Palestinians’

Referring to the Palestine issue, Erdogan accused the UN Security Council of standing idle amid the Israeli massacre of the Palestinian people.

“The massacres in Bosnia, Rwanda, Somalia, recently in Myanmar, and in Palestine as we speak have all taken place before the eyes of the United Nations Security Council,” he said, vowing to stand by the Palestinians.

“Those who remain silent against the oppression of the Palestinians, who reduce the humanitarian assistance to them, are only increasing the courage of the oppressors,” Erdogan pointed out. “Even if the whole world turns its back, we, Turkey, will continue to be on the side of the oppressed Palestinians and will protect the historical and legal status of… Jerusalem (al-Quds),” he added.

US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel last December and relocated the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city in May.

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