President Erdoğan's assessment of the turmoil in Syria: 'Our greatest wish'

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "We are closely following the developments that have suddenly erupted in our neighbor Syria over the last few days. As Turkey, we are ready to do whatever falls to us to extinguish the fire in our region, just as we have done in the past."

Erdoğan held a joint press conference with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović. Expressing his great pleasure in hosting President Milatović and his delegation in Ankara, President Erdoğan recalled that this year marks the 145th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Montenegro. Stating that there is comprehensive cooperation with Montenegro based on solid political, economic, and cultural foundations throughout this shared history, Erdoğan reported that they discussed bilateral relations comprehensively in his meeting with Milatović. Noting that they also evaluated the steps to be taken in the coming period during the meeting, President Erdoğan said, "We decided to establish a High-Level Strategy Council to provide an institutional framework for our relations. We also exchanged views on regional and international issues. We reaffirmed the importance we attach to stability in the Balkans. I would like to emphasize once again on this occasion that as Turkey, we attach great importance to supporting peace, prosperity, and stability in the Balkans, which is a religious and ethnic mosaic."

Stating that Montenegro is a country that sets an example for the culture of tolerance and coexistence in the Balkans with its rich cultural and ethnic fabric, President Erdoğan said, "During my visit to Montenegro in 2021, we set a target to increase our bilateral trade volume to 250 million dollars. Despite the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and global economic difficulties, thank God, we are very close to reaching this target."

"WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 THOUSAND CITIZENS OF MONTENEGRIN ORIGIN"

Noting that they agreed with Montenegrin President Milatović to raise this target even higher, President Erdoğan said, "We are among the leading countries investing in Montenegro. In the field of contracting, our companies have successfully completed 62 projects worth approximately 500 million dollars in Montenegro. Our companies continue their interest, especially in the infrastructure, construction, and service sectors. As a result of this interest, there has been a record increase in our direct investments in Montenegro in 2023 and 2024. On this occasion, I would like to thank my dear friend President Milatović on behalf of my nation for the support they have given to our business people."

Pointing out that human and cultural relations are developing rapidly, just like economic relations with Montenegro, President Erdoğan said, "Our human and cultural relations are developing rapidly, just like our economic relations with Montenegro. In addition to our 25 thousand citizens residing in Montenegro, we have more than 150 thousand citizens of Montenegrin origin in our country. Led by Turkish Airlines (THY), our airline sector connects Montenegro to almost the entire world with its numerous flights. Undoubtedly, these flights also make significant contributions to the tourism relations between us. TİKA's projects in the fields of restoration, education, and health, and the Yunus Emre Institute's cultural and artistic activities are also an important dimension of our relations. To date, TİKA has carried out more than 500 projects and activities in Montenegro with a total value exceeding 30 million dollars."

President Erdoğan stated that the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center has provided Turkish language education to more than 2,500 students since its establishment, and that more than 500 Montenegrins are continuing their education in our country within the scope of Turkey scholarships. Stating that they attach great importance to the preservation of peace, tranquility, and stability in Turkey's wide periphery from north to south, President Erdoğan said, "We have been saying from the beginning that a just peace must be established in the Russia-Ukraine war, which negatively affects both us and Montenegro. We have maintained the same principled stance regarding the Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. We have also clearly declared our support for the ceasefire reached in Lebanon. We hope and desire for a ceasefire to be achieved in Gaza as soon as possible. As Turkey, we are ready to do whatever falls to us to extinguish the fire in our region, just as we have done in the past."

"I WAS DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SYRIA ALSO BEING AFFECTED"

Expressing that they are also following the developments that have suddenly erupted in Syria very closely, President Erdoğan said, "Both our Minister of Foreign Affairs and our Head of the National Intelligence Organization are in constant contact with their counterparts and are conducting their consultations. In fact, for a long time, I have been drawing attention to the possibility of the spiral of violence in the Middle East also affecting Syria. The latest events have confirmed and registered Turkey's justification."

Stating that Turkey's stance, sensitivities, basic priorities, and the parameters of the policy it has defended in the Syrian conflict are clear, President Erdoğan said, "Our greatest wish is for the protection of Syria's territorial integrity and national unity, and for the instability that has been ongoing for 13 years to end through consensus in line with the legitimate demands of the Syrian people. Within the framework of our country's national security priorities, we are following and analyzing the process on the ground moment by moment, and we are taking all necessary measures to ensure that no action, especially any different action, occurs that would harm these."

Stating that there are companies from Turkey that currently have investments in Montenegro, President Erdoğan said, "We discussed these with the President as well, and we talked again about the importance we attach to the steps these companies will take in the coming period. And these companies are truly very, very strong companies in Turkey, and I shared with them that they could take many steps here, especially in industry and the defense industry, in the coming period. In the coming period, they will already have the opportunity to discuss the steps these companies will take at dinner this evening. It will provide another power sharing between Turkey and Montenegro for the future."

Stating that Israel has not kept its promises in Gaza to date, President Erdoğan said, "As for the point of whether it will keep its promises in the coming period or not, we have not seen a very sincere approach on this matter so far. I do not think we will see one from now on either. Because what are we to believe in this process where more than 50 thousand people have been killed? Most recently, there are people being killed one after another in Lebanon. What are we to believe? Therefore, if they are promising a ceasefire, let us hopefully see it and let these steps be taken in practice. Let us also believe in it."

News Source: İHA