President Erdoğan: We are determined to eliminate all the terrorists east of the Euphrates
President and Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan introduced the party’s mayoral candidates for Erzurum and its districts.
Describing Erzurum as a landmark city on the road to Turkey’s independence and future, President Erdoğan emphasized the critical role the locals of Erzurum played in the resistance against the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
“WE ARE AGAINST PUTSCHISTS WHEREVER IN THE WORLD THEY ARE”
Recalling that he called on citizens to take to the streets during the July 15 coup attempt, President Erdoğan said: “We have always stood against coups. We have never sided with putschists, and never will. We are against coups and putschists wherever in the world they are. We stood against the coup targeting Morsi in Egypt and I have not come together with its perpetrators so far, not even once. Now there is a similar attempt underway in Venezuela. We, yet again, stand against it. We will never side with putschists wherever in the world they are.”
Drawing attention to the recent developments in Syria, President Erdoğan said: “Those who come from thousands of miles away and sell weapons right under our nose are pulling every trick in the book in a bid to hinder our efforts that are aimed at defending the rights, peace and future of our neighboring brothers and sisters. We don’t need anyone’s invitation because we already put a signature on the issue with the Adana Agreement in 1998. This signature clears the way for Turkey to enter those areas in the event of an unfavorable incident and stipulates that members of the separatist terrorist organization be handed over to us.”
“THERE IS A LIMIT TO OUR PATIENCE”
Pointing out that the agreement between Turkey and Russia prevented a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, President Erdoğan noted that Turkey manages the process with Russia and Iran by means of trilateral summits, which he said prevents the outbreak of new massacres in the region.
“We will clear terrorists from Manbij,” President Erdoğan further stressed, and continued: “I reiterate our determination to eliminate all the terrorists east of the Euphrates, whether they be members of DAESH or the PKK/YPG. There is a limit to our patience. We are not to wait till forever for the promises made to us to be honored. We expect the promise for a safe zone or a buffer zone which will protect not the terrorists next to our border against our country, but our country against terrorists, to be delivered on within a couple of months. Otherwise, we will definitely establish that safe zone or buffer zone ourselves. Our only expectation from our allies is logistical support.”
INTERNATIONAL COALITION UNABLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY IN THE REGION
Also noting that the international coalition, which was set up to protect the Syrian people against terrorists and against regime’s oppression, is unable to provide security in the region, President Erdoğan underscored that Turkey is the only power that can ensure that the safe zone to be established along Turkey’s border with Syria is really safe and functions properly. “The effective control in the field within this area, which will contribute to the settlement of the issue, must rest with Turkey. We declare it upfront that Turkey is not open to any offer other than this one as a settlement. And if there is a price to be paid for this dignified stance, we are ready to pay it.”
RECENT VISIT TO RUSSIA VERY SUCCESSFUL
In a separate speech during a dinner hosted by the AK Party’s provincial branch in Erzurum later in the day, President Erdoğan touched upon his recent visit to Russia. Stressing that the visit was very successful, President Erdoğan noted that such efforts will hopefully contribute to ensuring peace in the region to the south of Turkey.
