QA-46, 30 August 2017, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hüseyin Müftüoğlu, in Response to a Question Regarding the Statement of UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Turkey’s policy since the beginning of the Syrian crisis has obviously aimed for preserving the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and for finding a political solution which satisfies the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. Being a neighboring country and, as such, having been at the forefront of the most severely affected states by the conflict in Syria, it is the will of Turkey to see that the crisis is ended as soon as possible on the basis of the said principles, and that Syria continues its existence as a sovereign and credible member of the international community. In this context, it should also be acknowledged that Turkey cannot tolerate any circles which threaten its national security by creating faits accomplis on the ground under the guise of fight against terrorism. Turkey believes that the responsibility of the destruction in Syria must be looked for at the right addresses, and that there should be no compromise on the moral standing and coherence which this effort requires.