Turkey: relations could normalize if US meets expectations in Syria

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday that normalizing relations with the US is possible in the case that the latter fulfils Ankara’s ambition in Syria.

This remark came as part of Cavusoglu’s response to the recent US sanctions against Ankara over the purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system.

Washington imposed long-anticipated sanctions on Turkey on Monday over its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense systems.

The US applied new sanctions which targeted Turkey’s President of Defense Industries Ismail Demir, and employees Mustafa Alber Deniz, Serhat Gançolu, and Faruk Yigit.

Turkey refused to back down from acquiring the Russian defense system despite the imposed sanctions, and said it would respond in kind after evaluating the American sanctions, Cavusoglu added in an interview with Turkish news broadcaster 24 TV.

Ismail Demir, Turkey’s President of Defense Industries, said that American sanctions would not affect neither the Defense Ministry nor Turkey’s army and troops.

“The S-400 technology is the best missile system compared to its counterparts,” according to Demir.

Turkey tested the missile defense system in October for the first time, drawing condemnation from the Pentagon.

“Our projects are being carried out through companies that are not sanctioned by America as well as that will not affect the signed agreements and reconciliations before imposing the sanctions,” he added.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the sanctions on Monday, calling them illegitimate and “another manifestation of an arrogant attitude towards international law.”

Iran also condemned this move, describing it as contempt for international law.