Erdogan: Syria's leadership shift marks success for Türkiye as neighbour

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the change in leadership in Syria has also been a victory for Türkiye as a neighbouring country.

President Erdogan emphasised that those who cannot celebrate the end of the brutality of the Ba'ath regime are unable to accept that the victory of the "Syrian brothers" is also a victory for Türkiye as their neighbour, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Moreover, President Erdogan declared that Türkiye has reached a favourable moment to permanently eliminate the terrorist threat.

"In the wake of some critical changes in our politics and our region, a new and historic window of opportunity has opened up before our country to end the scourge of terror for good. We think it would be wrong to waste it," the Turkish leader said during his speech at the 8th Ordinary Provincial Congress of the Justice and Development Party in Diyarbakır. 

He said that no matter on whom they lean, all terrorist organisations know now that they stand no chance against the Republic of Türkiye. President Erdogan expressed intention to put an end to long-standing imperialist ambitions that have harmed Türkiye and hindered its development for nearly fifty years. 

The Turkish Armed Forces were put on high alert due to a potential operation in Syria against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that an ultimatum had been issued to PKK members in Syria. Fidan said that Turkish authorities have demanded that PKK representatives must lay down their arms and leave Syrian territory. He stated that if the demand is ignored, Ankara may launch military action.

By Naila Huseynova