In a statement provided by the State Department on behalf of the secretary, Pompeo said he warned Cavusoglu about \u201cthe potentially devastating consequences of unilateral Turkish military action\u201d in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith regards to this readout, I was there and we know what we talked, and such language was never used, in Syria particularly they never mentioned such things about the unilateral actions of Turkey,\u201d Cavusoglu told reporters at a news conference in Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just agreed to continue working together through this task force and also joint working group, and Jim Jeffrey comes to Turkey very often,\u201d he added, referring the the U.S. special envoy for Syria.<\/p>\n
Cavusoglu also reiterated remarks made the day before, saying that he proposed to have a team to assess the S-400 will not pose a threat to NATO.<\/p>\n
\u201cI proposed to have a technical team or a joint working group to make sure this S-400 that we have purchased for our own need, this is a defense system by the way, will not pose any risk or threat to NATO systems including F-35s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Turkey decided in 2017 to purchase the S-400 systm following protracted efforts to purchase air defense systems from the U.S. with no success.<\/p>\n
Cavusoglu contends Turkey urgently needs an air defense system because of the \u201cthreat in the neighborhood\u201d and said NATO is not yet capable enough to cover the country\u2019s airspace.<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s purchase of the S-400 system has led to significantly strained ties with Washington, which earlier this week suspended delivery of parts and services necessary to Turkey\u2019s receipt of the F-35 stealth fighter jet.<\/p>\n
In responding to remarks that the S-400 missile system is incompatible with NATO military equipment, Cavusoglu said the system would be for Turkey\u2019s own use.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be integrated to the NATO system, and this is not our aim. It is for our own use, this is a defense system,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that Turkey could agree on a price for the U.S. Patriot missile system, but in order for progress to be made congressional approval would be needed to solve the F-35 issue between the countries.<\/p>\n