09.03.2025 17:00
AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, in a statement regarding the recent developments in Syria, said, "We defend the integrity of Syria. Sectarian provocations are being planned in Syria. A terrorist is a terrorist; there is no sect, ethnic origin, or denomination. We do not consider any targeting of civilians to be legitimate, and we do not accept it." Çelik also mentioned that they immediately identified what the underlying focus of the attacks could be.
AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik made evaluations regarding the clashes in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus, which are described as the stronghold of the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.
Highlights from Çelik's statements are as follows:
"WE REJECT ACTIVITIES TO TURN SYRIA INTO A CLIENT STATE" "Our President has approached the situation that emerged from the massacres initiated by Assad in Syria with a focus on Syria's security, and the most determined and loudest voice against the Baath massacres came from our President. The attack on the Syrian security forces in Latakia is a terrorist attack against the unity of Syria. Our most important motto is that Syria belongs to all Syrians. We reject activities to turn Syria into a client state. We defend Syria's territorial integrity to the end. We defend Syria's national unity to the end. It is not possible to solve the problems in a few months. As our President emphasized, it is about the emergence of an inclusive administration. It is a government that represents all the people of Syria. The people of Syria want to live a free life.
"WE IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED WHAT THE SOURCE BEHIND THE ATTACKS COULD BE" Some provocations have emerged, and civilian casualties have occurred. We hear that it is being portrayed as a sectarian incitement. When we first heard about it, our friends were in a meeting. Within 30 seconds of hearing about the group that carried out the terrorist attack against the Syrian government, we immediately identified what the source behind it could be. Therefore, the institutions of the Republic of Turkey are aware of every development on the ground. These are some forces that are remnants of the Assad regime. The language used on social media should be careful. It is wrong to use language that suggests this is a Nusayri uprising. We believe that all groups should not be associated with terrorism. We approach these groups with a brotherhood policy. Assad's massacres cannot be attributed to the Nusayris. The massacres of ISIS cannot be attributed to the Sunnis. The massacres of the YPG terrorist organization cannot be attributed to the Kurds.
"A TERRORIST HAS NO SECT, A TERRORIST IS A TERRORIST" Islam is a religion of peace. The word terrorism should not be associated with Islam. Opposition parties in our country should absolutely refrain from using expressions like Sunni terrorist, Druze terrorist. A terrorist is a terrorist. The sectarian affiliations of our citizens and the people in our region are highly respected values. Therefore, it is natural for our citizens to identify themselves by their sect, but political sectarianism is poison. During the election period from May 14 to May 28, we expressed this as well. We have stated on various occasions how problematic it is for Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu to use a sectarian expression when defining himself, and how dangerous it is to bring sectarian identities into politics.
"WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE TARGETING OF ANY CIVILIAN" Some criticisms are being made by the opposition towards our government, our party, and the People's Alliance. There is a sensitivity emphasized regarding civilian casualties. We do not accept the targeting of any civilian. I would like to express that the approaches of the Syrian administration to warn its security forces to be more sensitive regarding civilians while fighting against terrorism are extremely valuable. We believe that those who harm civilians by exhibiting exaggerated approaches as asymmetric groups will be punished accordingly. Since the events began, the Syrian administration's President has clearly stated that what they have done in this regard is fighting against terrorism, and that targeting civilians will never be accepted. Our sensitivity towards all civilians, regardless of their ethnic identity, is at the highest level. Some people are calling for international intervention to protect these groups.