Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan invited newly
elected U.S. President Donald Trump to Turkey on Nov.
12.
Erdoğan evaluated the victory of Trump while returning from
Belarus, where he paid a one-day visit, answering questions from
journalists.
Erdoğan said he believed that ongoing anti-Trump demonstrations
indicated that people could not digest the mogul’s victory.
"I congratulated him on the first night he was elected. He will
take over the duty of the presidency on Jan. 20, 2017. We can also
meet before this date if possible. I said during the phone call
that we would be pleased to meet reciprocally as soon as possible.
I remarked that we would be pleased if Turkey is one of his first
visits abroad. He responded positively," Erdoğan stated.
Erdoğan also said Trump’s team had a similar view to Iraq and
Syria as Turkey.
"For instance, the no-fly zone issue is very important. They
[Trump’s team] have similar opinions on this issue. This issue is a
vital subject for us. Why? We are referring to the area that has
been purged of terror.
But the area which was purged from terror should also be a
no-fly zone. When that issue is solved, there is one thing to do:
train and equip. We are already involved in training and
equipping," he said.
In an interview with Wall Street Journal, Trump said he "had an
opposite view of many people regarding Syria," adding that he
suggested a sharper focus on fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL) in Syria, rather than on ousting Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad.
"My attitude was you’re fighting Syria, Syria is fighting ISIL,
and you have to get rid of ISIL. Russia is now totally aligned with
Syria, and now you have Iran, which is becoming powerful, because
of us, is aligned with Syria. ... Now we’re backing rebels against
Syria and we have no idea who these people are."
Trump said that if the U.S. attacks Assad, then, "we end up
fighting Russia, fighting Syria."
Erdoğan also stated that Trump did not receive any money from
the Gülenist movement.
"These demonstrations against Trump are temporary, in my
opinion. I will not be surprised if the group that is protesting
Trump, falls in line to get an appointment from him. Trump did not
win the election by receiving money from FETÖ [Fethullahist
Terrorist Organization]. He has financial power and he subsidized
his election campaign by his own means. The rumors about the other
side [Hillary Clinton] getting money from the [FETÖ] was reflected
in the press. There is some news about those claims that will be
investigated," he added.
Trump called roughly a dozen foreign heads of government the day
after his election victory, including leaders in Ireland, Turkey,
India, Japan and Mexico.
The president-elect also spoke with leaders in Egypt, Israel,
Australia and South Korea, Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks confirmed.
A day later, he had phone conversations with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May.