Breaking news... Erdoğan's statement on Syria: We are ready to meet, we are waiting for a response

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements at Atatürk Airport before his trip to the US, where he will attend the 79th UN General Assembly.

Regarding the normalization process with Syria, Erdoğan stated, "We have expressed our will to meet with Bashar al-Assad. Now we are waiting for a response from the other side."

Highlights from Erdoğan's statements are as follows:

"(UN 79th General Assembly) On the first day of the meetings, Tuesday, September 24, I will address the UN General Assembly. I will specifically touch upon the genocide in Gaza and the joint steps that can be taken against Israel's aggressive policies.

Israel has turned Gaza into a Nazi camp. We will specifically touch upon the genocide in Gaza and the joint steps that can be taken against Israel's aggressive policies. Important duties fall upon the entire world to end Israeli oppression and ensure a permanent ceasefire.

Israel is once again carrying out attacks not like a state, but like a terrorist organization. The fact that it has activated digital attacks is a clear expression of this.

We have expressed our will to meet with Bashar al-Assad for the normalization of relations between Turkey and Syria. Now we are waiting for a response from the other side."

RISING TENSION IN ISRAEL AND LEBANON

"Unfortunately, Israel continues to carry out attacks not like a state, but almost like a terrorist organization. It has made this stance even more evident, especially with digital attacks. Israel has once again shown that it is ready to try every path to achieve its hateful goals. The attacks are expanding, affecting not only Lebanon but the entire region. I spoke with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati; he described the situation as extremely dire and said they are going through a very difficult process. The region is currently facing a crisis too great to be described in words. Mikati requested our help and stated that he would not be able to attend the United Nations this year. The international community, especially Western countries, must take action against these barbaric acts of Israel. It is high time for all countries with a mission to protect world peace to take concrete steps to stop Israel. Humanity does not even have a day to lose.

WE HAVE MOBILIZED ALL OUR RESOURCES

These attacks have once again revealed how important national technologies, including the defense industry, are. We have mobilized all our resources to take the necessary precautions.

''WE ARE READY TO MEET WITH ASSAD''

The tension in Syria must now end. The instability there strengthens the state terrorism practiced by Israel, primarily terrorist organizations. We have expressed this situation many times, but Western states insist on not understanding. We will continue to emphasize this reality, and I will focus on this issue in my speech at the UN. Ending this tension in Syria will be an important step for peace and stability. We believe that Turkey and Syria should take joint steps. The Damascus administration and the opposition ensuring a de-escalation in Syria offers an important opportunity for a permanent solution. Millions of people are waiting to return to their homelands. We have made our call on this matter and have also expressed our will to meet with Bashar al-Assad for the normalization of Turkey-Syria relations. Now we are waiting for a response from the other side. We are ready for this meeting. As two Muslim countries, we want to realize this unity and brotherhood as soon as possible. Hopefully, this meeting will be the beginning of a new era in the relations between the two countries."