18.12.2019, Ankara.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed the possibility of closing Incirlik and Kuredzhik air bases to the United States on December 15 in an interview with TRT Haber TV channel.
“Incirlik and Kürecik should be closed if necessary”, Erdogan said, commenting on the US Senate decision on the Armenian issue (the resolution on the Armenian genocide in 1915). Erdogan believes, that the decision is “purely political”, it is determined by domestic policy in the United States in order to weaken President Trump’s position.
“We give the necessary response within the framework of reciprocity. If they do such things, then we will not be silent. Aren’t we able to talk about American Indians? The history of the Indians is a disgrace to America. It is very important for both sides that the US does not take irreparable steps in our relations”, Recep Erdoğan said.
At the end of October 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution on the recognition of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Fahrettin Altun, head of the communications Department of the Turkish presidential administration, called the adoption of the resolution “irresponsible and irrational”.
It should also be noted that on December 11, the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill to impose sanctions against Turkish officials. Sanctions were imposed for Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. The bill will then go to the Senate for consideration.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
