Ankara, Republic of Turkey (Weltexpress). Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, has stated that his country intends to end the activities of terrorist separatist organisations in Syria, who must either lay down their arms or be eliminated. ‘We are determined to defeat terrorist organisations in Syria, especially ISIL (Islamic State) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (banned in the Republic of Turkey), which pose a threat to the security of our two countries. These separatist criminals will either lay down their arms or be buried with them in Syria. We will root out the terrorist organisation that is trying to create a bloody divide between us and our Kurdish brothers,’ Erdogan said in his speech to the ruling Justice and Development Party in parliament.
‘The only NATO member actively fighting them is Turkey. And we cannot allow ourselves to be constrained in this fight. Our only aim is to ensure peace, stability and security in every part of our region, starting with Syria. For others, security and stability in Syria may be secondary. We cannot agree to this, as we have a 900-kilometre border with Syria,’ said the Turkish leader.
Discussing the issue of Syrian refugees in Turkey, he stated that his country would “support those who want to return,” but would ’not force anyone to leave.’
