President Erdoğan: We will resolve the Syria issue at the table, if possible; if not, we will definitely resolve it on the ground
President and Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed citizens during campaign rallies in Istanbul’s districts of Kağıthane, Bayrampaşa, Sultangazi and Güngören ahead of the local elections scheduled for March 31, 2019.
“THE ESCALATION IN ATTACKS ON OUR COUNTRY STEMS FROM EFFORTS AIMED AT BLOCKING THE PATH TO A POWERFUL AND PROSPEROUS TURKEY”
Pointing out that there is an escalation in the attacks against Turkey in the days leading up to the elections, President Erdoğan stated that the aim of those who escalate their attacks is to hinder Turkey from getting powerful and prosperous. Noting that Turkey paid off its debt to the IMF in 2013, raised its Central Bank’s foreign exchange reserves to around $100 billion, and increased the share of domestic production in defense industry to 68%, President Erdoğan underscored that Turkey would never yield to pressures.
Stressing Turkey’s determination to resolve the Syria issue as the first order of business following the elections, President Erdoğan said: “Those seeking to surround our southern borders with terror corridors will never succeed in their endeavor. We have taught the necessary lesson to those who tried to do that. First thing following the elections, we will resolve the Syria issue at the table, if possible; if not, we will definitely resolve it on the ground. We will not stop. Whether at home or abroad, whoever has designs on our people’s food or livelihood, we will never forgive them. We are as determined to finish off economic terror as we are determined to finish off armed terror.”
Drawing attention to Turkey’s fight against terror inside and outside its borders, President Erdoğan recalled the operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch against the terrorist organization in the south of Syria and added that Turkey has completed its preparations to do whatever is necessary in east of the Euphrates, as well, if need be.
