Erdoğan said he “hopes and expects the world will give the United States a very good lesson,” at the upcoming UN session
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan slammed U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to influence an upcoming vote on Jerusalem at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday.
In a speech given at an awards ceremony, the Turkish President addressed Trump directly saying “Mr. Trump, you cannot buy Turkey’s democratic will with your dollars,” in a clear reference to the American president’s warning on Wednesday regarding cutting aid to countries who vote against the U.S. at the upcoming vote on the status of Jerusalem at the UN Security Council.
Erdoğan also said he “hopes and expects the world will give the United States a very good lesson,” at the upcoming UN session.
“Today, there’s a vote at the UN regarding the U.S. recognizing Jerusalem as the capital [of Israel] and its attempts to move its embassy there. The U.S. is handing out threats. What is this threat?” It is ‘We give out dollars, but there are those who act contrary to our beliefs. We’re taking all of their names.’”
“They say the U.S. is the cradle of democracy. The cradle of democracy looks for volitions to buy with dollars. I call on the world: Beware of ever selling your will to anyone for petty dollars,” Erdoğan warned.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to cut U.S. aid to countries that vote in favor of a UN resolution that denounces his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
On Dec. 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, sparking angry demonstrations in many Muslim countries and worldwide condemnation.
On Monday the U.S. used its veto power to cancel out a Security Council resolution to condemn the U.S. president’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the holy city, despite 14 of the 15-member council voting in favor.
The resolution will be discussed at a rare emergency special session on Thursday by the 193-member General Assembly, where the U.S. does not have veto powers.
