“The refugee problem needs to be approached from several different aspects. First of all, in terms of refugees, their hometowns were destroyed. As you know, the conflict started in Syria in March 2011 and there is a civil war that is approaching 11 years. It is such a war that it is not clear who is fighting whom. We said that after the turmoil in Syria started, we said that all of Syria's neighbors, especially Turkey, should make an intense effort to end the turmoil there as soon as possible, to establish calm and to prevent further deterioration of social peace,” Yapıcıoğlu told Journalists at a press briefing held in Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city as well as its cultural and financial hub.
“We said that Turkey is effective on at least some of the dissidents there, and there is Iran's influence. These two countries, these two powers that are in the position of being a regional power, should get their hands on the Syrian issue and end the problems as soon as possible. If it doesn't end, if this war continues longer, the results will affect everyone negatively. I think this is clearly seen at the point we have arrived at,” Yapıcıoğlu added.
Reminding that Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey faced a serious influx of refugees, Yapıcıoğlu continued his remarks as follows: “They were affected economically by the migration. Because of its support to the regime in Syria, Iran began to suffer from serious economic and political problems. In other words, everyone was negatively affected by the Syrian conflict. While everyone was focusing on Syria, the coup took place in Egypt. We are at the same point again.”
“We say that first of all, everyone should do their part to ensure peace and tranquility there so that refugees can return to their homeland,” Yapıcıoğlu concluded.