Turkish PM: 5 Daesh members ‘under control’

By Kubra Chohan

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Sunday that Turkey is paying the price of terrorist organizations’ instability.

Yildirim was asked at a press conference, whether Turkey would launch an operation toward the Syrian cities Afrin and Idlib.

Yildirim said, at Ankara Esenboga Airport before leaving for Singapore, “Unfortunately, each and every terrorist organization takes over the rule from the other and there is a serious instability. The innocent who live there pay the price for it, and so does Turkey”

He stated that Turkey is constantly threatened by terror due to their neighbors in the area, “This morning, 5 Deash members were ‘neutralized’ while attempting to cross the border illegally. It’s under control”.

Turkey would respond to any threats in terms of border security, the people’s safety of life and property ‘without hesitation’, he said.

Asked about Russian and Iranian military and diplomatic authorities frequently visiting Turkey, Yildirim said, “We are working together to ensure a lasting peace in Syria. Our purpose is to make the temporary truce permanent”.

“For Syria’s future and their people to return to their homelands, there is nothing more normal than Turkey contributing to solutions that they should closely be following”, he said.

Turkey and Iran, along with Russia, are the brokers for the Astana peace talks on Syria. At the latest round of talks in May, the three countries announced plans to establish “de-escalation zones” throughout the war-ravaged state.

During Yildirim’s first visit to Singapore as Prime Minister, he will meet his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan Keng Yam, join a Singapore-Turkish business forum, hold talks in various industry facilities, and address notable businessmen and NGO’s.

Yildirim will return from his visit to Singapore and Vietnam on Thursday.