Yıldırım: Goal is Not to Overthrow Assad

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As to Operation Euphrates Shield, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on his visit to Russia has said “Operation Euphrates Shield doesn’t aim to overthrow Syrian regime”.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had said that the operation’s goal is to “put an end to governing of [Syrian President Bashar al] Assad, and upon Russia’s reaction, on December 1 he said that “the operation doesn’t target a person or a country but terror organizations”.

Coming together with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow yesterday (December 7), PM Yıldırım spoke to Russian news agency Ria Novosti.

Euphrates Shield

“Fate of ethnical groups in Syria is more important than Assad. Indeed, the operation doesn’t aim to overthrow Syrian regime.

“As we said at the beginning, we went there to fight terrorism. I hope an agreement is reached in Russia with opposition in Syria.

“Our common purpose is to save people who die during the conflict. Nothing can be more valuable than human life. We are ready to do anything in our power to stop the bloodshed. At this point, it is important that Russia pressure Syria to take a step for truce”.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

“We are dialogue partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Studies to develop relations with Shanghai Cooperation Organization are continuing.

“However, this is clear that us developing our relations with Shanghai Cooperation Organization is not an alternative to other organizations of which we are a member”. (AS/TK)

* Photo Sefa Karacan – Moscow / AA