Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary held a joint press conference in Budapest.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Orbán of Hungary, Erdoğan said: "We have an exemplary cooperation with Hungary in terms of the preservation of our shared historical and cultural heritage."

 "We are determined to realize several projects with Hungary in defense industry"

Stating that they discussed during the talks the possible steps to further the strategic cooperation between Turkey and Hungary, President Erdoğan noted: "We have a common will with Mr. Prime Minister of increasing our trade volume, which was $2.6 billion as of the end of 2018, to some 6 billion dollars." Voicing Turkey’s resolution to provide Hungarian entrepreneurs with every means, President Erdoğan underlined that they are determined to realize several projects with Hungary in the area of defense industry, and added: "We have an exemplary cooperation with Hungary in terms of the preservation of our shared historical and cultural heritage."

Underscoring that Hungary’s support for Turkey’s accession process to the European Union is very valuable to Turkey, President Erdoğan said: "I would especially like to express that I always appreciate Mr. Prime Minister’s support on this issue. Undoubtedly, the EU’s recent stance towards our country is far from being constructive. The bilateral issues of some member countries should not stall Turkey-EU relations. In fact, the bloc is undermining its own interests with this attitude."

"It is thanks to 'Operation Peace Spring' that the fight against terror continue with determination"

Stating that he addressed during the talks his thanks to Prime Minister Orbán of Hungary with regard to his support for 'Operation Peace Spring', President Erdoğan stressed that Turkey carries out its works to establish a safe zone which will facilitate the return of the 4 million refugees, who are currently in Turkey, to their own lands and homes.

"It is thanks to 'Operation Peace Spring' that the fight against terror continue with determination," President Erdoğan said, adding that although terrorists cannot entirely be removed from the designated areas despite the memorandums of understanding reached with the U.S. and Russia, the fights against DAESH and PKK/PYD/YPG continue in a determined manner. President Erdoğan noted that during the operations conducted, DAESH ringleader al Bagdadi’s wife and 13 people from his inner circle were captured. (ILKHA)