Erdogan expresses hope that all those who advocate peace will back his ‘historic’ appeal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of peace efforts in Syria and urged all peace advocates to support this initiative. He emphasized that a just peace, respecting Syria’s territorial integrity, is in Türkiye’s best interest and would benefit neighboring countries the most. Erdogan noted the positive progress so far and expressed hopes for concrete steps soon, including potential talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He highlighted that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is working with his Syrian counterpart to lay out a roadmap for peace.
Erdogan criticized NATO and Western countries for not supporting Türkiye’s fight against terrorism, particularly against the PKK. He mentioned that terrorism has found some support in Western countries, especially Germany, France, and the UK. Erdogan praised Iraq’s recent actions against the PKK and reiterated that Türkiye’s stance towards the administration in Sulaymaniyah will not change unless it distances itself from the PKK. He highlighted Türkiye’s good relations with the Iraqi Defense Ministry and intelligence organizations and noted the positive cooperation in combating the PKK.
On the issue of Palestine, Erdogan condemned Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza and urged the recognition of the state of Palestine as a fair and just approach. He highlighted the devastating impact of the war on Gaza, including the loss of over 38,300 Palestinian lives and extensive destruction. Erdogan called for international support for Palestine and emphasized that recognizing Palestine would contribute to global peace and stability. He noted that several European countries have already taken significant steps towards recognizing Palestine.
Erdogan also discussed various regional issues, including the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Türkiye’s mediatory role in the Russia-Ukraine war. He expressed optimism about peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and mentioned the potential reopening of the Türkiye-Armenia border if peace progresses. Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s fair approach and efforts to reopen the Black Sea grain corridor. He also addressed Türkiye’s ties with NATO allies, criticizing restrictions on defense industry sales and the delivery of turbines for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.
