President Erdoğan: Turkey’s struggle in Syria does not aim to gain territory or obtain a strategic or sectarian base
President and Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the Provincial Advisory Council meeting of the party’s in Ankara.
“WE WILL NOT ALLOW TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND AN OPPRESSIVE REGIME TO SURROUND OUR BORDERS”
“We had been conducting our operations in Idlib in a limited manner in order for the issue to be resolved peacefully and with common sense. However, our good-will was misunderstood,” President Erdoğan said. “As of February 27, when our 34 soldiers were martyred, we widened the scope of the operation to include all regime elements and named it ‘Operation Spring Shield’. Our aim in this operation remains the same as operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring.”
“We are determined to not allow our borders to be surrounded by terrorist organizations and an oppressive regime which has its eyes on our lands, and also to not let the burden of millions of asylum seekers to be permanently put on our shoulders,” President Erdoğan underscored.
Addressing Russia and Iran, President Erdoğan said: “We do not have an issue with you in Syria. Turkey’s struggle in Syria does not aim to gain territory or obtain a strategic or sectarian base. We endeavor in Syria to resolve the humanitarian crisis, caused by millions who fled this country and came to Turkey, while also ensuring the security of our lands.”
“THE ERA OF UNILATERAL SACRIFICE IS OVER”
Noting that Turkey, for the last 9 years, has been housing and supporting 3.7 million Syrians inside its borders and a million right across its borders, President Erdoğan said: “For years, we have called for establishing safe zones in Syria to settle the people fleeing the regime. However, no European country provided concrete support or contribution to these calls.”
“We will either give these people a dignified life in their own lands or everyone will shoulder their fair share. The era of unilateral sacrifice is over,” President Erdoğan said.
“TURKEY HAS THE WILL AND THE CAPACITY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM IN SYRIA ON ITS OWN”
“Turkey has not directly targeted Russia or Iran in Syria so far, and will not do so. We are only destroying, with our operation, the regime elements that shed our soldiers’ blood. And we expect our sensitivity to be respected. Turkey has the will and the capacity to resolve the problem in Syria on its own.”
