We entered Syria to end Assad’s reign - Highly controversial words from Erdoğan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated at the Interparliamentary Jerusalem Platform Symposium in Istanbul.

Erdoğan, noting that in his “own estimation” nearly one million people have died in Syria, pointed out that the deaths are still continuing, said, “We said patience, patience, patience but finally we could stand it no more and were forced to enter Syria along with the Free Syrian Army.”

“WE ENTERED SYRIA TO END THE TYRANT ASSAD’S REIGN”

Erdoğan, saying that Turkey did not have its eyes on Syrian territory, continued, “The issue is for the territory to be owned by its true owners and to achieve this. That is, we are there to bring about justice. We went there to end the reign of Assad, the tyrant who wields state terror, and for no other reason.”
These were the key points of Erdoğan's speech:

- You are in Istanbul as the voices of the conscience of the people you represent. You came to Istanbul as the defenders of peace, justice and well-being. I thank all of you for devoting yourselves to this sacred cause. It is a source of pride for us to be hosting you in our country on the international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“YOU PROCLAIMED TO ALL THAT JERUSALEM IS NOT ALONE”

- The effort to partition Jerusalem in time and space has become greater. The first of these meetings which we held at the time when attacks on Haram al-Sharif were intensifying was of great significance. You brought Palestine’s problems onto the agenda. You proclaimed to all, friend and foe alike, that Jerusalem is not alone. I believe that, God willing, following this meeting you will widen your endeavours and the platform will become even stronger. I thank everyone who has devoted their labour to convening this distinguished meeting in homage to Palestine.

“IF YOU BLOCK THE AZAN THIS WILL CAUSE TROUBLE”

- Our region is in need of initiatives that will contribute to peace and not fresh tension. We have conveyed our concerns through various channels to Israeli officials over these matters and as to the dangerous consequences that may ensue from the adoption of such a bill.

- I conveyed the following point to the Israeli President who called me the night before last. I said that I believed the Israeli parliament would exercise sound judgement. The azan is a summons. If you block it this will cause trouble. As the term president of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation we will continue to monitor this issue.

“THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE”

- The solution to the problem is the founding of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem based on 1967 borders. To this end, the international community must increase the support it gives to Palestine. It is above all a human duty for all the 193 countries in the UN to recognise Palestine that has been waging an honourable struggle against occupation for decades. I call from here to the whole world for all counties that have not yet recognised the Palestinian state to immediately take this step.

“TO END ASSAD’S REIGN”

- Is the UN Security Council able to make a move over the issue of Syria? Have you seen anything from the UN in Syria or in Iraq? Currently, there is talk of figures in the 600 thousands but, no, in my estimation, nearly a million people have died in Syria. Where is the UN? What is it doing? Is it in Iraq? No. We said patience, patience, but finally we could stand it no more and were forced to enter Syria along with the Free Syrian Army. Why did we do this? We do not have our eyes on Syrian territory. The issue is for the territory to be owned by its true owners. To achieve this. We are there to bring about justice. We went there to end the reign of Assad, the tyrant who wields state terror. Let nobody engage in racist nationalism. For, we can never countenance bad-tempered nationalism.

SECTARIAN CLASH

- Were we to look for another guiding tenet apart from Islam, God forbid, we would be heading for a bad place indeed. What is going on just now in Iraq is a sectarian clash. As to what is going on in Syria, it is the same. I now say as the term President of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation let us come and join forces but stand firm. Let us not act emotionally and let us take those steps we must take. Let us not be cowed by certain quarters. If we do nothing about it and continue in our cowardice they will crush us even more.