President Erdoğan performs Friday prayer in Istanbul
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered reporters’ questions after performing the Friday prayer at Hz. Ali Mosque in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul.
“WE UNFORTUNATELY DIDN’T RECEIVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM ASSAD”
Asked about his opinions on the latest developments in Syria, President Erdoğan said: “As of now, Idlib, Hama and Homs; and the target is of course Damascus. This march of the opposition continues at the moment. We are following it through both intelligence and media. It is our hope that, I will say that may this march in Syria continue without any accidents and troubles.”
Recalling that Türkiye had called on Assad to have talks and determine Syria’s future together, President Erdoğan stated: “We unfortunately didn’t receive a positive response from Assad. Right now, Idlib is already under control. Homs is in the hands of the opposition and there is an advance towards Damascus. These troubling marches going on in the entire region are not as we would like them. Our hearts do not desire these. Unfortunately, the region is in trouble. Yesterday, I received news from Lebanon, from Mr. Prime Minister. There is a request to meet with him. Most probably, we will have a meeting. As you know, Lebanon is in a very difficult situation. Everywhere, including the Golan and Beirut, has been razed to the ground.”
“THE WHOLE HUMANITY MUST HOLD ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MASSACRES AND GENOCIDES IT COMMITS”
In response to a question about Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire, President Erdoğan said that he had a telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday, and added: “They are doing everything in their power, and will continue to do so. We will be endeavoring to maintain our talks with a view to ensuring that the ceasefire in the region holds and becomes permanent. The United Nations is for sure the only way out in this matter.”
In answer to a question about Amnesty International’s report on Israel’s genocide in Gaza, President Erdoğan drew attention to Israel’s attempts to dodge the decisions issued against it by international courts, and further stressed that countries of the world as well as the whole humanity must hold Israel accountable for the massacres and genocides it commits.
