Erdogan in favor of solving problems through constructive dialogue

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday Turkey could not remain silent over the use of sanctions as weapons when the country is in a bitter standoff with the United States over the fate of a Christian pastor detained by Ankara.

"None of us can remain silent to the arbitrary cancellation of commercial agreements and the use of economic sanctions as weapons," Erdogan said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

"We are in favor of solving our problems through conducting a constructive dialogue on equal terms."