Turkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to supporting Syria’s territorial integrity and its people’s struggle for freedom, hailing the "noble uprising" that led to the fall of the Assad regime. Speaking at a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) convention in Ankara, Erdogan emphasized that Turkiye would not allow Syria to be divided or controlled by terrorist groups such as Daesh and the PKK.
“We cannot allow Syria to be fragmented again,” Erdogan declared, praising the Syrian people’s “magnificent revolution” and reiterating Turkiye’s unwavering stance against terrorism in the region. He condemned the presence of the PKK’s Syrian affiliate, the YPg, which has sought to establish an autonomous region in northeastern Syria. Recently, the Syrian National Army (SNA) captured two key towns from the group.
“Any attack on the Syrian people's freedom, the stability of their new government, or the integrity of their land will face our opposition,” Erdogan warned. Turkiye has long supported the Syrian opposition against the Assad regime since the conflict began more than a decade ago, but in recent months, Erdogan has called for a normalization of relations with Assad, urging him to pursue a political solution. However, progress has stalled, and anti-regime forces launched an offensive in late November, which Turkiye condemned.
Erdogan reminded his audience that Turkiye has borne the brunt of the Syrian civil war, particularly with the massive influx of refugees and the emergence of the YPg as a serious threat. While critical of Assad’s oppressive regime, Turkiye continues to advocate for Syria’s territorial integrity and political dialogue between the government and opposition factions.
Beginning his speech by reflecting on Syria’s “historical” developments, Erdogan praised the Syrian people's resistance against decades of oppression. “By god's will, they have crowned their noble uprising with a fight for freedom, rights, and a better future,” he said, quoting poet Abdurrahim Karakoc: "A morning brighter than snow will follow nervous sleep and blinding darkness." Erdogan called the December 8 liberation of Damascus a turning point, marking the collapse of Assad's brutal minority regime.
Looking ahead, Erdogan expressed optimism that terrorist groups like Daesh and PKK/YPg would soon be eradicated from Syria, further strengthening the country’s sovereignty. “We believe no rational power will cooperate with these terrorists as Syria moves closer to reuniting,” he added.
Erdogan pledged Turkiye’s continued political, diplomatic, economic, and military support to Syria’s people in their "historical struggle" and reaffirmed that Syria belongs to all Syrians, regardless of faith or ethnicity. He also highlighted Turkiye's significant sacrifices to support Syrians during the conflict, providing refuge to millions displaced by the war.
He condemned attempts within Turkiye to tarnish the country’s humanitarian efforts towards refugees through hate speech and racism, stressing that the nation had resisted such divisive ideologies.
Since the start of the Syrian conflict, Turkiye has hosted millions of refugees, becoming home to the world’s largest refugee population at its peak. The war has displaced more than half of Syria’s pre-war population of 23 million, with a significant number seeking safety in Turkiye.
Erdogan emphasized that Turkiye would continue to support Syrian refugees seeking to return home, ensuring their safe and dignified repatriation. "We will facilitate their return, as we have done in the past," he assured.
Addressing broader regional issues, Erdogan reiterated that Turkiye would not tolerate fanatical ideologies and violence. He pointed to ongoing crises in Palestine, Syria, and Ukraine as guiding factors in Turkiye’s foreign policy, stressing the importance of regional security, peace, and stability for both Turkiye and its neighbors. "We want security, peace, and prosperity for all," Erdogan concluded.
Source: Daily Sabah
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
