Latest Recep Tayyip Erdogan Quotes from Interviews

Quotes about:

• The relations between Russia and Turkey entered into a really positive stage. I am sure that steps we both take will widen our cooperation.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Cooperation, Relation

  "Erdogan visits Russia after coup attempt stirs tensions with the West". "PBS NewsHour" with Judy Woodruff, www.pbs.org. August 9, 2016.

• Turkey has put up a fight against the powerful nations of the world. The crusader mentality attacked us abroad. Inside, their lackeys attacked us. We didn't succumb. As a nation, we stood strong.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Strong, Powerful, Fighting

  Source: www.pbs.org

• If the people allow something to happen, it's the right thing.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  People, Happens, Ifs

  Source: perspectivebd.com

• If an individual is a terrorist, then you should not be promoting those people and putting them under a good light, if you will, and promoting to the young generation to come. That will only be spoiling the young generation.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Young Generation, Light, People

  Source: perspectivebd.com

• Our bilateral relations and our agreement [between Turkey and America] on the extradition of criminals should dominate and precede actually any inclusion into any list.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Agreement, Turkeys, America

  Source: perspectivebd.com

• If some people keep saying that the press is still not free in Turkey, then I would like to say this: there has been a coup attempt in Turkey. And there are people siding with the coup plotters. And there are - there is also media outlets that have been against - that are against the coup attempt. So my question is that against the media that supported the coup, will the Turkish justice, judicial system, not take any steps? Of course it will.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Turkeys, Media, Justice

  Source: perspectivebd.com

• When the U.S. asks for the extradition of a terrorist, if Turkey doesn't have that individual on the terror list, what do we say, what do we respond? Now, the individual might not be on your terror list or terrorist list. But if he is on my list, and if we have an agreement on the extradition of criminals, if I make the request, then, well, you should extradite that person. And there has been numerous examples of that mechanism working with many other nations as well, not just the U.S.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Turkeys, Agreement, Might

  Source: perspectivebd.com

• Is Europe a home for an alliance of civilizations or is it a Christian club? If the former is true, then Turkey should be part of it.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Christian, Home, Civilization

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". DER SPIEGEL interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• If the EU doesn’'t want Turkey, they should say it now and clearly. If we are not wanted, then both sides don’t need to waste their time with negotiations.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Turkeys, Sides, Needs

• Turkey wants to be treated by the same standards as other countries. If you compare us to some other newly accepted EU members our performance, especially in terms of the economy, is much better.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Country, Turkeys, Want

• 70 percent of Turkey’s citizens favored the EU; today it is only 50 percent. If you ask if they want Turkey to become an EU member, 60 to 65 percent still say yes. But if you ask: Do you believe Europe will accept Turkey, 60 percent say no.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Believe, Europe, Turkeys

• Turkey's path toward Europe started back in 1959, almost 50 years ago. But we have been pushed to the side ever since. Despite all the hurdles we will not deviate from our course towards Europe –- even by one step.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Turkeys, Years, Europe

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". DER SPIEGEL interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• Turkey is the gateway to the east for Europe, and the gateway to Europe for the east. We have a bridging function that Europe shouldn't underestimate.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Europe, Turkeys, East

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". DER SPIEGEL interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• When we strengthen our relations with the Gulf states, when we cooperate with the Arabs, everybody asks if we are looking for a new geopolitical place. But in the Middle East and the Gulf, you can find German, French and British goods everywhere. German relations to these states are very good, as are English and French relations. Does this make them Arab-oriented?

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Middle East, Doe, States

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". DER SPIEGEL interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• If the nuclear program is indeed meant only for civil purposes, then it is wrong to impose sanctions.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Nuclear, Purpose, Program

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". DER SPIEGEL interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• I am against nuclear weapons, regardless of whether they are in the hands of Iran or Israel or any Western country. But obviously some states are allowed to have weapons of mass destruction while others are not.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Country, Mass Destruction, Israel

• If nuclear energy is used for the sake of humanity, then I say yes. But if it is used destructively, then no.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Humanity, Energy, Nuclear

• Germany and Turkey are two countries that need each other. As political leaders we will leave our offices one day, but our people will remain and have to get along with each other. So we shouldn’t give them negative messages.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Country, Turkeys, Two

  Source: www.spiegel.de

• I am saying yes to criticism, but no to insults.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Criticism, Saying Yes, Insult

  Source: www.spiegel.de

• My own daughters weren't able to study in Turkey because of their headscarves, so they went to the United States.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Daughter, Turkeys, United States

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". Der Spiegel interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• In Turkey the religious minorities have more rights than they do in Europe.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Religious, Rights, Europe

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". Der Spiegel interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• The whole world is an open, free market. No state can exist without the others.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  World, States, Free Market

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". Der Spiegel interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• Obviously some states are allowed to have weapons of mass destruction while others are not.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Mass Destruction, Weapons, States

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". Der Spiegel interview, www.nytimes.com. April 16, 2007.

• The knife in the hand of a murderer kills, but if you give it to a doctor he will heal with it.

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Doctors, Hands, Knives

  "If the EU Doesn't Want Us, They Should Say it Now". Interview with Annette Grossbongardt and Joachim Preuss in Ankara, www.spiegel.de. April 16, 2007.

• I don't want to use the term "nuclear weapons" because those people in Iran who have authority say they are not building nuclear weapons. I make an appeal to the countries who do have nuclear weapons. They don't consider them a nuclear threat. But let's say a country that doesn't have nuclear weapons gets involved in building them, then they are told by those that already have nuclear weapons that they oppose [such a development]. Where is the justice in that?

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  Country, Iran, People

  "Bashar Is Politically Dead". Interview with Lally Weymouth, www.slate.com. September 20, 2012.