Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke to the general public in Şanlıurfa, southeastern Turkey, on Friday.
“One people, one flag, one nation," said Erdoğan, expressing national solidarity in the face of a string of recent terror attacks across Turkey.
“Our time is not too far away. Those who appeal to terrorist organizations for their own interests will soon be consumed by the fire of terrorism. We are going to overcome this calamity," he continued.
Erdoğan expressed a determination to combat terrorism and continue to launch projects that benefit the people. A set of goals, dubbed the 2023 vision, were released by Erdoğan to coincide with the centenary of the Republic of Turkey.
“We are a country whose young and old stand in front of tanks bearing their chests. We will reach our 2023 goals," he said.
“We entered Jarablus, we have besieged Al Bab. Our martyrs have multiplied from one to 10. These lands will not be encircled. The PKK is in Qandil. No matter who is reigning terror they will pay for their atrocities," the Turkish President explained.
“What a shame that terrorists think we will give in to terrorism," he said.
Turkey's Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria has yielded significant results since its launch late last August. Turkey has been left to combat Daesh alone, without the aid of its allies.
“When we intervened on the field, they wanted us to leave. They started the Mosul operation, and delayed the Raqqa operation. Daesh is there. Why aren't you combatting them? They saw Turkey was achieving results and changed their plans," Erdoğan explained.
“We will not stop until we clear the other areas of terrorist organizations. We will do everything necessary to ensure that our brothers in Iraq and Syria have peace. If we have no [military] support, we will continue with our own means," vowed Erdoğan.
