While addressing the sixth Somali Compact High-Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) in Istanbul, Erdoğan said Turkey’s stance against terrorism was clear.
“We do not differentiate between Al-Shabaab and Daesh or Al-Nusra, or between PKK, PYD, and YPG. No matter who does it, terror is terror, and a determined struggle against this threat should be undertaken,” he said.
Erdoğan was co-chairing the partnership forum with his Somalian counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud.
Somalians and foreign delegates from 51 countries converged in Istanbul for a two-day forum to discuss Somalia’s reconstruction process.
Erdoğan mentioned that Somalia needs to be supported, as the country is going through a critical period. “On this rocky road, we need to support Somalia and never leave them in the lurch,” he said.
Saying that Turkey has been also fighting terror for over 30 years, Erdoğan emphasized that a successful struggle against terror can be only sustained when one does not differentiate between “good” and “bad” terrorists.
“All countries should adopt a common stance against the countries that support terrorism,” he said.
Turkish President said as Turkey continued its fight against terrorism, the country also continue to support oppressed people who fled from war in Syria without consideration for their ethnic or religious identity.
Turkey opened its doors to nearly 3 million Syrian refugees who fled the devastating five-year-long war in their country where at least 400,000 people have been killed and over 12 million people displaced, he said.
“Turkey has become the conscience of the world with its stance toward Syrian refugees. Thus Turkey protects the dignity of humanity.”