President Erdogan Urges Support for Peace in Syria, Calls for Global Backing

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasized the critical need for peace in neighboring Syria, calling on all advocates of peace to support this significant initiative.

“We want peace in Syria, and we expect everyone who stands for peace to support this historic call,” Erdogan stated to journalists on his return flight from Washington, D.C., where he participated in a NATO leaders’ summit earlier this week.

Highlighting Turkey’s ongoing efforts to foster peace in Syria, Erdogan remarked, “The US and Iran should welcome these positive developments and support the process to end immense suffering.” He emphasized that a just peace in Syria would be particularly beneficial for Turkey and neighboring countries, adding, “The most important step in this process is to start a new era with Syria.”

Addressing the possibility of a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a topic he has hinted at recently, Erdogan said, “Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is working with his Syrian counterpart to lay out a roadmap. We will take steps accordingly.”

Reflecting on the prolonged Syrian civil war, which has lasted over a decade and driven millions of refugees into Turkey while creating a power vacuum exploited by terrorist groups, Erdogan stated, “We have been striving for years to extinguish the fire in our neighbor, Syria.”

“Our main expectation is that no one will be disturbed by the process in which Syria builds a new future as a united and whole country,” he added.

Erdogan also warned of potential disruptions to the peace process by terrorist groups, saying, “Terrorist groups will do everything they can to poison the peace process in Syria. They will plot provocations and set traps. We are aware of all these plans and are prepared.”

Last week, President Erdogan signaled a new diplomatic peace initiative with Damascus, suggesting a potential invitation to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad.