Turkey paying the price of terrorist organizations’ instability, Turkish PM says
ANKARA
Yıldırım was asked at a press conference, whether Turkey would launch an operation toward the Syrian cities Afrin and Idlib.
“Unfortunately, each and every terrorist organization takes over the rule from the other and there is a serious instability. The innocent who live there pay the price for it, and so does Turkey. Turkey would respond to any threats to border security and the people’s safety of life and property without hesitation,” he said at Ankara Esenboğa Airport before leaving for Singapore.
Asked about Russian and Iranian military and diplomatic authorities frequently visiting Turkey, Yıldırım said, “We are working together to ensure a lasting peace in Syria. Our purpose is to make the temporary truce permanent.”
“For Syria’s future and their people to return to their homelands, there is nothing more normal than Turkey contributing to solutions that they should closely be following,” he added.
Turkey, Iran and Russia are brokers in the Astana peace talks on Syria. At the latest round of talks in May, the three countries announced plans to establish “de-escalation zones” throughout the war-ravaged state.
During Yıldırım’s first visit to Singapore as the prime minister, he will meet his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, and President Tony Tan Keng Yam to join a Singapore-Turkish business forum, hold talks in various industry facilities, and address notable businessmen and NGOs.
Yıldırım will return from his visits to Singapore and Vietnam on Aug. 24.