Erdoğan aims at Russia with unveiled criticism on Syria

ANKARA

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has leveled an unveiled criticism at Russia for its continued military assistance of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while indirectly calling on European leaders to initiate an administrative change in the neighboring country, which he said would also constitute a substantial resolution for the growing refugee crisis.

“While it is clearly obvious that the problem in Syria is a regime problem and a problem of the regime’s oppression on its own people, looking at the matter from the aspect of balances of international powers and political estimations would dry up consciences,” Erdoğan said in a speech delivered on Sept. 16.

“Look, some countries are still sending planes to Syria and assistance is going on,” Erdoğan added, in an apparent reference to Russia’s assistance to Syria.

In recent days Russia has sent about half a dozen battle tanks and other weaponry - along with military advisers, technicians, security guards and portable housing units - to Syria with the apparent goal of setting up an air base near the coastal town of Latakia, a stronghold of the Syrian president.

In a speech delivered at an international ombudsman symposium held in the capital city of Ankara, Erdoğan called on European leaders and made clear the refugees flocking into their countries actually want to return to their home countries.

“But their own countries have turned into a situation which is not livable,” the Turkish president added. “The resolution of the refugee problem doesn’t pass through closing doors to these people and setting fences and building walls at borders. The essential resolution is providing an immediate end to clashes in these people’s own countries and taking over of administrations which would lend an ear to the voice and demands of the people,” he said, referring to the al-Assad regime.