Turkey Aims for Peace and Stability in Syria, Says Erdogan

Turkey's sole objective is to promote peace and stability across the region, beginning with Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Wednesday during a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency

Erdogan expressed joy at the sight of the free Syrian flag alongside Turkey's in cities such as Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs, emphasizing Turkey's support for Syrian revolutionaries who have taken control in Damascus.

“With the fall of the Baath regime and Bashar Assad fleeing Syria, a new chapter has opened for the country,” Erdogan said, highlighting Turkey's interventions to prevent further bloodshed during the recent offensive that ended Assad's 25-year rule.

He described the swift victory of anti-regime forces as a “magnificent success” and stressed that Syrians of all backgrounds can now shape their own future. Erdogan called for international support, particularly from the Arab and Islamic world, to aid in Syria's reconstruction, noting that the cost of the conflict has reached $500 billion, according to UN estimates.

Turkey plans to reopen its consulate in Aleppo following the restoration of its embassy in Damascus earlier this month.

Pledge to Eliminate the PKK

Turning to terrorism, Erdogan vowed to eradicate the PKK, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU. He reaffirmed Turkey's commitment to securing a "terror-free" future and preventing the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG, from establishing a “terror corridor” along Turkey's border.

In its decades-long campaign, the PKK has been responsible for over 40,000 deaths, including women and children. Erdogan reiterated Turkey's determination to use all available resources to address this threat.