President Erdoğan Announces OIC Program to Support Syria’s Recovery and Unity

Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the launch of a special program to support Syria under the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), underscoring the importance of unity and solidarity within the Islamic world to safeguard Syria’s political and territorial integrity.

Speaking at the 41st COMCEC Ministerial Meeting in Istanbul on Monday, President Erdoğan said the initiative aims to strengthen Syria’s human and institutional capacity through targeted assistance. “Through this program, which will contribute to strengthening human and institutional capacity, we will provide project support to Syria in areas such as training, expert exchange, needs analysis, and feasibility studies,” he stated.

Reflecting on Syria’s protracted conflict, Erdoğan said: “For nearly 14 years, our Syrian brothers and sisters have paid a heavy price; nearly one million Syrians lost their lives in attacks by the Baath regime and terrorist organizations. Millions were forced to migrate, including 3.6 million to Türkiye. Throughout this process, we hosted Syrian refugees with a sense of hospitality.”

He affirmed that Türkiye had always sought to fulfill its duty of brotherhood and neighborliness in the best possible way, emphasizing that “praise be to Allah, the oppressed Syrians finally achieved victory.”

President Erdoğan noted that the atrocities that devastated Syria for 14 years had finally come to an end following the December 8 Revolution, marking the beginning of a new phase of recovery and reconstruction under the leadership of Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara.

Highlighting Türkiye’s ongoing role in supporting the Syrian people, Erdoğan said the country continues to provide assistance across multiple sectors — including transportation, education, security, trade, health, and social services.

He further underscored that the support of the OIC and the wider Islamic world is vital to ensuring Syria’s political unity, territorial integrity, and lasting prosperity, adding: “Syria’s integration with regional economies will bring tangible benefits to both Syria and our region.”