Erdogan: As Turkey, we of course look toward the West, but this does not mean that we will turn away from the East

Turkey is often criticized for its foreign policy, but the claims that Turkey is moving away from the West are complete lies and slander, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at an award ceremony organized by the Turkish Contractors Association for services provided to foreign contractors, Anadolu news agency writes.

“I keep saying it all the time. As Turkey, we of course look toward the West, but this does not mean that we will turn away from the East, ignore the East and not develop our relations with the East. We no longer live in a black-and-white world where one block is preferred over another. We seek to develop our cooperation with all countries and all participants with a mutually beneficial, balanced approach based on mutual respect. We’ve been doing this for the past 22 years and have been very successful. I hope that from now on we will continue to act on the basis of mutual trust and not on the basis of fear,” the Turkish president said.