Following Assad’s ouster, Erdoğan says only two leaders left in world: ‘Me and Putin’
After Syria's Assad was ousted, Turkey’s Erdoğan said there were only two leaders left in the world, him and Russia’s Putin. "The others have all been eliminated," he said.
Duvar English
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Dec. 8 commented on the recent developments in Syria during an event dubbed “Meeting with the Youth”, which was held in the southeastern Gaziantep province.
“At the moment, there are only two leaders left in the world. Me and Vladimir Putin. I am not saying this because I am me, I am saying the case. (I have) 22 years in office. Mr. Putin has almost as long. The others have all been eliminated,” Erdoğan said on the same day Syria’s Bashar al-Assad was ousted as the rebels seized control of Damascus.
Erdoğan also commented on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The court made a very accurate decision. But Netanyahu has never complied with the previous decisions. He will not obey this one either. Whether he complies or not, the fact that this order has been issued is a victory for the anti-Israel countries in their struggle for honor,” he said.
“And of course, the world is going through a very different process. Now we will see how the new administration in America will be formed with Trump. With all these, the world is evolving towards a very different order. Therefore, the next 2-3 months are very important. As Turkey, we are making all the efforts we can,” Erdoğan added.
Erdoğan also commented on former German chancellor Angela Merkel, and said, “Merkel had a place in German politics. After Merkel left, politics in Germany is over.”