The leader of the opposition in Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rival in the upcoming elections, Kemal Kilicdaroglu confirmed that if he wins the presidency, he will restore relations with Syria to their previous era.
Kilicdaroglu said in a speech today, Saturday, before a mass electoral rally in the state of Kayseri, central Turkey: “Within a maximum of two years, we will reconcile with Syria, and we will fully restore our normal relations with it, and we will reopen embassies between the two countries, and we will return the Syrians residing in Turkey, who numbered more than three million person, to their country.”
He added that if he wins the presidency, he will seek to resume negotiations as soon as possible regarding his country’s accession to the European Union.
He made it clear that Ankara would maintain economic relations with Russia, although he and his allies did not see it right for Russia to launch a military operation against Ukraine.
He pointed out that the task of his presidency will be to prevent Turkey from turning into a state of absolute authoritarian rule, but rather to restore democratic institutions and begin to solve the economic problems that his country suffers from.
Kilicdaroglu stressed that the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the media and freedom of expression, all of these things must return, and that his priority is freedom and democracy.
Kilicdaroglu is considered the first competitor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during the presidential elections, which are scheduled to be held on May 14th.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency