Message from President Erdoğan to Assad: “Let’s Determine the Future of Syria Together”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made striking statements about the progress of the opposition in Syria and the situation in the region. Erdoğan reminded the Assad regime of the call for cooperation in the past and emphasized what needs to be done for the future of Syria. Erdogan’s statements included remarkable messages on the humanitarian crises in Syria, Lebanon and the region.
Situation in Syria: Progress and Message to Assad
President Erdoğan stated that regions such as Idlib, Hama and Homs have fallen under the control of the opposition and that this advance continues towards Damascus. “As of now, the march of the opposition continues. We are closely following this process through intelligence and media,” Erdoğan said.
Recalling the calls for cooperation made to Assad in the past, the President said that they had said “Let’s determine the future of Syria together”, but they had not received a positive response. Erdoğan expressed his hope that this progress would continue without causing more conflicts in the region and emphasized the troubled situation in the region.
Regional Crisis: Lebanon and the Golan Heights
President Erdoğan drew attention to the situation in Lebanon and the Golan Heights as well as Syria. Stating that Turkey will not remain insensitive to the requests for aid from Lebanon, Erdogan said, “Both in the Golan and Beirut, everything is in ruins. We, as Turkey, will continue to provide the help we can,” he said.
Emphasizing that Turkey will support the region with both in-kind and cash aid, Erdoğan criticized the global community’s silence against these crises.
The United Nations and the Search for Global Solutions
Referring to his meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Erdoğan said that the UN is making efforts to make the ceasefire in the region permanent. “The United Nations is the only way out on this issue,” Erdoğan said, adding that the international community should make more efforts for a common solution.
Erdoğan also recalled the International Criminal Court’s rulings on Israel’s human rights violations and said that these rulings put Israel in a difficult situation. However, the President stated that Israel has so far gotten away with these violations and said, “Humanity will not leave these steps of Israel alone and will hold it to account.”
Turkey’s Role in the Region
President Erdoğan emphasized that Turkey has assumed a pioneering role in humanitarian aid. Stating that Turkey will continue its efforts to find solutions to the crises in the region and increase humanitarian aid, Erdoğan called on the international community to be more active in this process.
