Erdogan: US, coalition forces primarily feed terrorism in Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Aug 2022 13:42
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara is not eyeing Syria, claiming that Syria's territorial integrity is important to Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, and UN chief Antonio Guterres (AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country is ready to contribute to ending the war in Ukraine through diplomacy and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart for a meeting in Turkey.

On board the presidential plane following a one-day visit to Ukraine, Erdogan told reporters, "I stated that we will continue to contribute to the solution to the war through diplomacy and negotiations."

"Just as I told (Russian President Vladimir) Putin during my Sochi visit, I reminded (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky that we could host the meeting between them," he added.

Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported that Erdogan, Zelensky, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met in the Ukrainian city of Lvov to discuss steps to end the Ukraine war through diplomatic means "and maintain a mechanism recently established for the export of Ukrainian grain to world markets."

Erdogan mentioned that he has separately met with Zelensky and Putin since the beginning of the war, adding that Ankara will touch on the matter at the UN General Assembly in September.

"The messages to be conveyed there are very, very meaningful. The messages that we and other countries will give there, are very important," he pointed out.

Erdogan warns of 'another Chernobyl'

Erdogan warned of a nuclear tragedy in Ukraine during his first face-to-face talks with Zelensky since the war broke out, echoing calls from the UN Secretary-General.

Fighting surrounding Europe's largest nuclear reactor - the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) - has prompted urgent warnings from world leaders, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying during talks with Erdogan that any damage to the plant would be "suicide".

"We are worried. We don't want another Chornobyl," Erdogan said during a press conference in Lvov, during which he also assured the Ukrainian leader that Ankara was a firm ally.

"While continuing our efforts to find a solution, we remain on the side of our Ukraine friends," he added.

Erdogan also said Zelensky demanded the removal of Russian mines from the area.

"We will discuss this issue with Putin, and we will especially ask him for this so that Russia should do its part in this regard as an important step for world peace," he noted.

Turkey has no eyes on the territory of Syria

Erdogan said Ankara's main contention is the "fight against terrorism" in northern Syria, adding that the US continues to support terrorism there.

"It is the US and coalition forces that primarily feed terrorism in Syria. They did it brutally and they still do it. They did not get tired of it, and they also made the same feeding in Iraq. To whom? Again to terrorist organizations. If there is unrest in Iraq today, unfortunately, America lies behind it," the Turkish President indicated.

He claimed that Ankara is not eyeing Syria, adding that Syria's territorial integrity is important to Turkey.

"We do not have eyes on the territory of Syria because the people of Syria are our brothers. We have no such problem there. The integrity of their territory is important to us. The regime must be aware of this," Erdogan said.

Responding to a question about possible talks with Syria, Erdogan said, "We need to know and accept this for once. Political dialogue or diplomacy between states can never be cut off. There are always these kinds of dialogues, there should be."

The Turkish President claimed Ankara is in contact with Moscow on every step it takes in Syria.