Erdogan vows to safeguard Syria's stability and rebuild cities
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has announced that his country will take all necessary steps to ensure the stability of Syria. He emphasized that Turkey is committed to supporting the reconstruction of Syrian cities and preventing the influx of terrorists.
President Erdogan declared that Ankara wants to assist Syria, now free from the Assad regime. He stressed that Turkey will not allow new terrorist elements to cross Syria's borders.
During a government meeting, Erdogan announced the reopening of the Yayladagi border crossing, which has been closed since 2013, to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees. He noted that Ankara will support Syrians in rebuilding their country.
Erdogan on Syria: "Protection from New Source of Terrorism"
The president explained that Turkey's cross-border operations are aimed at protecting against terrorism and emphasized that there are no intentions of territorial expansion.
Erdogan expressed hope that stabilization in Syria will lead to an increase in voluntary refugee returns. Currently, 2.9 million Syrians reside in Turkey, down from an initial 4.5 million. According to the Polish Press Agency, Syrians are already gathering at the Cilvegozu and Oncupinar border crossings, eager to return to their homeland.
At the start of the civil war in 2011, Turkey accepted the most Syrian refugees. However, with a worsening economic situation, Ankara eventually began limiting their influx.
The Polish Press Agency reminds us that Turkey considered Bashar al-Assad's regime its main enemy. Erdogan criticized Assad for "state terrorism." After 24 years, Bashar al-Assad's rule ended last weekend.
Rebels have captured the capital, Damascus, and announced the overthrow of the regime.
