Yahoo – AFP,
Burak Akinci, 1 Oct 2014
Turkey's
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) addresses the Turkish parliament
in Ankara
after it reconvened following the summer recess on October 1, 2014
(AFP
Photo/Adem Altan)
|
Ankara
(AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed the West on Wednesday to
find a long-term solution to the crises in Syria and Iraq, saying dropping
"tons of bombs" on Islamic State militants would only provide
temporary respite.
Erdogan has
pushed for the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad throughout the Syria crisis
to settle the conflict and said that international action had to go well beyond
air strikes.
"Dropping
tons of bombs from the air is only a temporary solution and only delays the
threats and the danger," Erdogan told parliament in a keynote address on
the opening day of its new session.
A Syrian
Kurd arrives in the southeastern
town of Suruc in the Sanliurfa province
after
crossing the border into Turkey on
October 1, 2014 (AFP Photo/Bulent Kilic)
|
Erdogan's
comments came a day ahead of a debate in parliament when the government will
seek authorisation for military action by Turkish armed forces in the Syria and
Iraq crises.
After
months of reticence in the fight against IS that exasperated the West, Turkey
has now shifted its policy and indicated it is willing to join the
international coalition.
Ankara has
not yet indicated what form its assistance could take although Erdogan has
repeatedly called for a buffer zone on the Turkish border inside Syria --
backed by a no-fly zone -- to ensure security.
"Turkey
has no intention of intervening in any country's internal affairs or grabbing
any other country's land," Erdogan told parliament.
"But
peace and stability in the region means peace and stability in Turkey," he
added.
Parliament urged to back measures
According
to the Hurriyet daily, quoting sources in Turkey's central command, the request
seeks permission from parliament for the presence and transit of foreign
soldiers in Turkish territory and deployment of Turkish military forces to Iraq
or Syria.
The armed
forces want to allow Turkey's allies the use of Turkish bases for humanitarian
aid and logistical support, including the Incirlik air base which the US is
keen to use for sorties against IS, it said.
But is for
the government to determine the terms and conditions under which the bases,
including Incirlik, can be used, Hurriyet said.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has a strong majority in parliament but Erdogan called on the opposition to also vote for the mandate.
"Parties in parliament should take this into consideration when voting for the mandate," Erdogan said.
"Parties in parliament should take this into consideration when voting for the mandate," Erdogan said.
Turkey's
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) addresses the Turkish Parliament
during a
debate as the Parliament reconvenes after a summer recess in Ankara,
October 1,
2014 (AFP Photo/Adem Altan)
|
"Remaining
silent means betraying our history."
Turkey has
been accused of playing a role in the growth of IS with its past support of
Islamist Syrian groups in the hope they would aid the ousting of Assad.
But Erdogan
angrily lashed out at suggestions of collusion between Turkey and IS.
"It is
out of the question to tolerate or to have the slightest sympathy on our
territory, region or planet for such a terrorist group," he said.
Ankara has
previously justified its low-key role in the fight against IS by saying its
hands were tied by concerns over the fate of dozens of Turkish hostages
abducted by IS in Iraq.
But those
hostages were freed September 20, prompting what Erdogan has acknowledged as a
major change in Turkish policy.
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