“We have two people left among the leaders in the world right now. Me and the ” said the referring to the years he is in power.
Asked to comment on what the German former chancellor mentions about him in her memoirs, which were recently released, the Turkish president said that the language used in communication with foreign leaders is important.
“Next to the expressions used, it is very important to maintain the dialogue mechanism with them. What we call diplomatic attacks. Let’s continue these diplomatic attacks,” he commented before adding: “We have two people left among the leaders in the world right now. One is me and the other is Vladimir Putin. I’m not saying this because it’s me, I’m stating it as fact. Of course, my humility has been in power for 22 years. But that’s all Mr. Putin. Everyone else is out.”
Referring to Angela Merkel, he stated that she had a special place in German politics. “After Merkel left, politics in Germany ended. It’s very interesting,” he said during an event with party youth in Gaziantep province.
Tayyip Erdoğan spoke highly of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder: “One of my favorite leaders is Schroeder.
Schroeder’s respect for me was very different and he was indeed a good leader. His relations with me were very, very different. For example, Shredder did not drink beer at the table I sat at during Ramadan. He was a very respectful person, a different person. Schroeder and I still communicate. He still visits Turkey from time to time. Schröder has a very, very powerful position in German politics. I wish there would be politicians similar to Schröder in Turkish politics as well.”
Source: APE – MEB
