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"Our sensitivity on Syria has never been driven by self-interest"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

09.12.2024

Delivering remarks following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdoğan said: "Anyone who knows the course of the incidents that have taken place in Syria over the past 13 years is the closest witness to the sincere struggle Türkiye has waged for a just peace. As I have been reiterating since the very beginning, our sensitivity on Syria has never been driven by self-interest."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.

"WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE PRESERVATION OF SYRIA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"

The civil war raging for 13 years in Türkiye's neighbor Syria has gained a new dimension as of yesterday, President Erdoğan said. "While Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and lastly, Damascus came under the control of their true owners, the Baath dictatorship, which survived through bloodshed, oppression and tyranny for 61 years, has completely collapsed. We are pleased that Tal Rifaat and Manbij, which remained under the occupation of the separatist organization for years despite the promises made, have now been cleared of terrorists. However, the fact that the old regime left some cities to the control of the separatist terrorist organization's Syrian extension has once again demonstrated the dirty alliance between them."

Noting that the Assad regime has never abandoned its 'anti-Türkiye' stance, President Erdoğan stated: "The old regime has arrogantly rejected our calls for resolving the Syrian conflict through dialogue, and the value of the hand extended by our country has not been recognized. Assad has fled, leaving behind a Syria where nearly 1 million people were massacred, 12 million people were forced to migrate, and many cities were turned into rubble."

"SYRIAN PEOPLE ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS"

Stressing that Türkiye has always supported the preservation of Syria's territorial integrity and unitary system, always favoring peace, freedoms, dialogue and justice, President Erdoğan added: "We, nevertheless, have never refrained from speaking out against injustice, oppression and cruelty. Yet, we have never acted with a blind animosity, either. Anyone who knows the course of the incidents that have taken place in Syria over the past 13 years is the closest witness to the sincere struggle Türkiye has waged for a just peace."

President Erdoğan further stressed: "As I have been reiterating since the very beginning, our sensitivity on Syria has never been driven by self-interest. We have always approached the issue from the perspective of conscience and mercy, and have always acted with humanitarian concerns. We firmly maintain our position today as well. Let me emphasize once again that the Syrian people are our brothers and sisters. They are our true friends with all their segments and religious groups."

"TÜRKİYE HAS BECOME A SAFE AND AFFECTIONATE HARBOR FOR OPPRESSED SYRIANS"

President Erdoğan stated: "Borders can separate countries physically; however, which power can separate hearts by drawing borders? Who could expect us to turn our backs on our neighbors with whom we share a 910-kilometer border! Our heart is half in Gaziantep, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, and the other half is in Afrin, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus."

Stressing that Türkiye has hosted 4.5 million Syrians with pleasure as a requirement of its faith and neighborliness, President Erdoğan said: "As a country that has provided refuge to the innocents for centuries, Türkiye has become a safe and affectionate harbor for oppressed Syrians, too. Türkiye has successfully passed a difficult test at a difficult time. The Turkish nation will forever carry the honor of embracing the oppressed Syrians in their dark days as a badge of honor."

"THE SOLE PURPOSE OF OUR CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS IS TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS FROM TERRORIST ATTACKS"

"A dark era in Syria has ended as of yesterday, and a bright era has begun," President Erdoğan underscored, and added: "Türkiye has no eye on the territory of another country. The sole purpose of our cross-border operations is to protect our homeland and our citizens from terrorist attacks."

Stressing that PKK and its extensions as well as DAESH are Türkiye's adversaries, President Erdoğan went onto say: "The territorial integrity of Syria must be preserved. With all its ethnic, religious and sectarian identities, Syria belongs to the Syrians. The Syrian people will determine the today and tomorrow of Syria. As their brothers and neighbors, our duty is to strongly support the Syrian people's efforts to rebuild and revive their country. Let me reiterate that Türkiye's greatest wish and goal is to see a Syria where all Syrians, regardless of whether they are Arab, Turkmen, Kurd, Sunni, Alevi, Alawite, Nusayri or Christian, live in peace. It shouldn't be forgotten that a Syria which has restored its stability will be a source of security both for its own citizens and for other countries in the region."