09.12.2024 20:10
In his statements following the cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan said, "The longing for our Syrian brothers' homeland is coming to an end. We are opening the Yayladağı Border Gate."
President Erdoğan announced that the Yayladağı Border Gate has been opened for Syrian refugees to return to their countries in his statements regarding the developments in Syria.
YAYLADAĞI GATE IS OPENING
Erdoğan spoke after the cabinet meeting. Evaluating the developments in Syria, Erdoğan stated that steps would be taken for the refugees who came to Turkey during the civil war in Syria to return to their countries. Erdoğan, who announced that the Yayladağı Border Gate would be opened, said, "The longing for our Syrian brothers' homeland is coming to an end. We are opening the Yayladağı Border Gate."
"THIS HOSPITALITY WILL BE WRITTEN IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY"
Erdoğan made the following statements on the matter: "We have personally experienced and practically witnessed these realities that history and geography have reminded us of for the last 13 years as a country and a nation. When there was a fire in our neighbor's house, we were the first to run. Our Syrian brothers, who fled from the attacks of the state regime and terrorist organizations, first knocked on our door to save their lives. Not a small number, 4.5 million Syrians have been guests in our home. We have provided support to Syrian refugees, whose population reached 3 million 700 thousand at one time but has now decreased to 2.9 million, for 13 years.
I say this openly. We did this not with arrogance or complaints, but with the requirements of our faith and our neighborly relations. We have fought many battles with the opposition on this issue. This unparalleled hospitality will be written in golden letters in the history of humanity. Turkey has managed to pass a difficult test with its head held high during a challenging period. The Turkish nation will eternally carry the honor of opening its arms to the Syrian oppressed in their dark days. Today, once again, I thank each member of my noble nation who extends a helping hand to the oppressed, regardless of the provocations of the opposition, on behalf of myself and my nation.
"THE MENTALITY THAT FOMENTS HOSTILITY TOWARDS REFUGEES HAS ALSO LOST"
I would like to express my gratitude to our partners in the People's Alliance for their compassionate stance during this process. However, I refer the racist lumpens who resort to hate speech for the sake of electoral calculations, the conscience-deprived individuals who harbor hatred towards orphans and the homeless who have lost their homeland, and those who remained silent for weeks in the most despicable form of fascism just to secure 3-5 seats in the parliament, first to God, then to the Syrian oppressed they have entered into their thrones, and of course to the collective conscience. The vile mentality that has fueled hostility towards refugees in our country alongside the tyrannical Assad regime in Syria has also lost. I want to emphasize this particularly.
I believe that the strong winds of change affecting Syria will lead to beneficial results for all the people of Syria, especially the refugees. As Syria stabilizes, hopefully, voluntary, safe, dignified, and orderly returns will also increase. It is my belief and prayer that the longing for homeland of our Syrian brothers, which has lasted for 13 years, will gradually come to an end. We have already begun to see signs of this. In order to prevent congestion and facilitate traffic, we are also opening the Yayladağı border gate for crossings."
WHAT HAPPENED?
On November 27, clashes intensified between regime-opposed armed groups and Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. The groups gained superiority in the largest cities such as Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Homs between November 30 and December 7. With the support of the masses, the groups that began to enter the capital Damascus on December 7 caused the regime to completely lose control in Damascus and many other regions.