Minister Güler’s Statement on Syria: Embracing the New Process
Minister Güler, along with Chief of General Staff General Metin Gürak, Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Land Forces Commander General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and Air Forces Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, met with Mehmetçik at the 5th Border Brigade Command in Iğdır.
Minister Yaşar Güler, who had dinner with them and celebrated their new year, said the following in his speech:
“WE ARE LEAVING BEHIND 2024, WHICH WE SPENT WITH INTENSE ACTIVITIES”
I would especially like to express that we are very happy to be with you, together with our Chief of General Staff and Force Commanders, at our 5th Border Brigade Command in our distinguished city of Iğdır, on the occasion of New Year’s Eve. We are leaving behind 2024, which we spent with very comprehensive and intense activities, and we are excited to enter 2025 with the same determination and motivation. On this occasion, I wish you a happy new year.
“WE HAVE ACHIEVED GREAT SUCCESSES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERROR”
We are going through a sensitive period in which multidimensional developments are taking place in our region and in the world, and risks and threats are increasing day by day. Undoubtedly, in such a critical environment, it is a necessity for our country to always be strong and alert against these multifaceted threats and dangers.
In this context, as the Ministry of National Defense and the Turkish Armed Forces, we have been carrying out our most intense and effective activities since the War of Independence for the survival of our country and the security and peace of our noble nation. As a matter of fact, we have achieved great success in the fight against terrorism domestically and across the border.
The terrorist organization has become unable to act as a result of these operations. As you know, we last closed the lock in Zap, in the north of Iraq. Currently, our struggle in the north of Iraq continues uninterrupted. Northern Syria is another important area of our fight against terrorism.
Thanks to the high success of our cross-border operations that started with Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016; We ensured the security of our borders, eliminated the terror corridor that was tried to be created on our southern borders, saved the people of the region from the tyranny of terrorists and prevented new waves of immigration. We also helped some of the Syrians in our country to return to the region voluntarily and with dignity.
“WE SIDED WITH THE SYRIAN PEOPLE”
On the other hand, we welcome the new process that has emerged in Syria and we follow the developments closely. As Türkiye, we have always stood by the Syrian people.
In this new period; We will continue our active efforts to ensure that the transition process is smooth in line with our national rights and interests, and we will continue our support more strongly and in close cooperation with the new administration, so that permanent security and stability can be established in the region and the Syrian people can create their future in the most peaceful environment.
Within the scope of the fight against terrorism; I would like to emphasize once again that our struggle will continue until we fully establish the security of our borders, that no terrorist organizations will be allowed in the region and that we will never allow any fait accompli.
We will fight terrorism, as we have done so far, with an increasing tempo and with the determination and determination to neutralize the last terrorist within the framework of the principles of speed and continuity.
“The ONLY WAY FOR TERRORISTS IS TO LEAVE THEIR GUNS AND SURRENDER TO THE GREAT TURKISH JUSTICE”
In addition to our successful fight against terrorism, we ensure the security of our borders with the most advanced technological means and capabilities, thanks to the great sacrifices of you, our heroic soldiers and colleagues.
Our current border measures include the strongest and most effective measures in the history of our Republic, and we are constantly improving our border security according to needs and emerging risks and threats.
“Border is honor!” I would like to express with great pleasure that I have observed that you, our heroes who serve here, fulfill their responsibilities with a high sense of duty.
For this reason, I kiss the eyes of my dear friends who work day and night, in all kinds of terrain and climate conditions, hot and cold, for the security of our sacred homeland and the peace of our noble nation.
“TURKEY’S CONSTRUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE ROLE IS INDISPENSABLE”
Simultaneously with our fight against terrorism and our duties at the borders, we uncompromisingly protect our rights and interests in our Blue and Sky Homeland.
On the other hand, we perform critical tasks for international security, peace and stability in many geographies.
The great initiatives we have undertaken, from Somalia to Qatar, from Libya to the Balkans, and the contributions we have made to regional security, most clearly demonstrate the power and capacity of our heroic army.
As many countries now accept, under the leadership of our President, Turkey’s constructive and active role in the international arena is indisputably important and indispensable.
In addition, with each passing day, we further increase the opportunities and capabilities of our glorious army with our domestic, national and modern defense industry product weapon systems, the newest of which we add to the inventory.
I must say with peace of mind and great pride that Turkey, with the breakthroughs it has made in the domestic and national defense industry in recent years, is now the rising power of the world in this field and is followed with envy all over the world.
