Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Ankara is not obligated to provide explanations or reports to the European Union regarding its participation in the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Erdogan, in an interview with the Turkish newspaper yenisafak, said: "The European Union has bound us for 52 years and has not allowed us to approach it. After that, it asks why we meet with this country or that? I will continue to hold meetings and negotiations. Currently, during these meetings, we are not responsible to the European Union."
Erdogan noted that he meets with heads of state from around the world, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He added, "I negotiate with all countries because we are all part of this world." At the same time, the Turkish president recalled that during meetings with European leaders, no one has asked him these questions and expressed his readiness to engage in dialogue with them as he does with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit took place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on September 15-16, with the attendance of leaders from 11 countries.
