President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the AK Party’s provincial heads at a meeting in Ankara.

Noting that the talks with the U.S. continue for the formation of a safe zone under Turkey’s control with a depth of nearly 30 or 35 km along Turkey-Syria border, President Erdoğan expressed his hope that the U.S. will act with a good sense regarding Turkey’s purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Russia.

Drawing attention to the ongoing shipment of the S-400 equipment and parts from Russia to Turkey, President Erdoğan stated that the S-400s will be operational in April of 2020.

"I would like to once again express that no threats or sanctions, Turkey’s removal from the F-35 project, in particular, can prevent us from implementing our country’s security priorities. Turkey shouldn’t be treated unfairly anymore on this issue," he said.

Stressing Turkey’s determination not to allow a terror corridor east of the Euphrates river in Syria, President Erdoğan said: "We are determined to destroy the terror corridor east of the Euphrates no matter how the talks currently being held with the U.S. for the formation of a safe zone along the Syria border conclude.”

President Erdoğan went on to say: "We have handled this issue successfully so far. Neither the embargoes by Europe and the U.S., which can no longer be hidden nor the tens of thousands of truckloads of weapons and equipment stocked in the region can stop us from tackling this problem.

Are we to stand by and watch? We are doing whatever is needed and we will continue to do so, for which we do not need anyone’s permission. As we have said before, we know how to paddle our own canoe."

He stated that those who are seen as strategic partners by Turkey give tens of thousands of truckloads of weapons and ammunition to terrorist organizations for free.

President Erdoğan said with regard to the F-35s that Turkey has so far paid 1.4 billion dollars for them, but that although four of them have been delivered to the Turkish pilots in the U.S., their shipment to Turkey is not allowed.

Underscoring Turkey’s determination to take all the measures in the best manner, President Erdoğan said: "I am hereby calling on the U.S. Congress. When we wanted to buy Patriot missiles during Obama’s term in office, you did not give them.

Now, it is Mr. Trump’s term, yet you are still trying to block it. We want to buy them, but you do not let us. Then, what are we supposed to do? We will go to whoever gives them."

Referring to the irrational and illegal attempts to prevent Turkey from exercising its legitimate rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, President Erdoğan said: "We have taken our steps there pursuant to the international law and the maritime law, and will continue to do so.

We have kinsmen in Cyprus. We are not an ordinary but a guarantor country in Cyprus. Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom are guarantor countries."

Further stating that the European Union has not delivered on its promises regarding refugees and has openly targeted Turkey’s policies for Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean, President Erdoğan noted that the rising racism, Islamophobia and animosity against Turks as well as the attacks, which are the manifestations of these trends threaten the continent’s future.

Touching upon the Palestinian issue, President Erdoğan said: "We do not approve of silence on the state terror that Israel blatantly carries out in Palestine." (ILKHA)