President Erdoğan: The issue in Syria is a matter of freedom and territorial integrity
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the appointment ceremony of the citizens with disabilities and the young under state protection.
“WHEREVER THERE IS SUFFERING IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD TODAY, WE SEE, BEHIND IT, SOCIETIES’ OWN INADEQUACIES”
Underscoring that Turkey, in every step it takes in all the areas from politics and trade to technology and arts, feels responsible towards not only its own citizens but also towards all its friends and sisters and brothers, President Erdoğan highlighted the importance of acting in solidarity and banding together, and said: “Wherever there is suffering and oppression in the Islamic world today, we see, behind it, societies’ own inadequacies. Oppressors that cause grave sufferings across the world draw strength from this scene, not from the weapons in their hands or the money in their safes.”
“WE SEE THE SECURITY AND PEACE OF THE ARABS IN SYRIA AS A BUSINESS OF OUR OWN”
Further stressing that the reason why there is oppression in Syria now is because Syrian people have been divided as Sunni or Shia in some places or as Arab, Kurd or Turkmen in others, President Erdoğan stated that the same also goes for Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Somalia,
“We cannot change this situation unless we look at ourselves to find the culprit for captivity and poverty. That is why we see the security and peace of the Arabs in Syria as a business of our own. That is why we see the problems of the Kurds as a business of our own. Why do we have a presence in Syria now? To give the freedom of our Arab and Kurdish brothers and sisters there back, not that of terror groups. That is the reason why we are in there. Turkmens are already our whole brothers and sisters. Needless to say, their security and peace is an issue of our own. As we have not left the Syrian Arabs to the mercy of DAESH, we will not abandon the Syrian Kurds to the PKK/PYD’s oppression, either. Nor will we leave our Arab brothers and sisters to the mercy of the PKK/PYD,” the President said.
“THE ISSUE IN SYRIA IS NOT A MATTER OF BEING ARAB, KURD OR TURKMEN”
Drawing attention to the fact that the areas Turkey has made secure are the only places where the almost 300 thousand Syrians, who have to date returned home, have settled in inside Syria, President Erdoğan stated: “This shows that the issue in Syria is not a matter of being Arab, Kurd or Turkmen. The issue in Syria is a matter of freedom and territorial integrity. In Syria, on one side there are oppressors including the regime, DAESH and the PKK/PYD, and on the other, Turkey, with the climate of peace and security it has established, its justice, its compassion, and the services it has brought. The equation is this simple.”
