Page 44 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

13,500,000 people were in need of assistance as a result of the events. In addition,
more than 5,000,000 Syrian people have tried to find a solution by taking refuge
in neighboring countries. Economic destruction exceeding 320-340 billion USD
(according to some estimates about 400 billion USD) also increases the gravity of
the tragedy.

II. Our Country’s Policy Towards The Syrian Conflict 24

The events that started in Syria in March 2011 have redefined the agendas of Syria
and the whole region as well as our bilateral relations with this country. The conflict
in Syria, with which we share a 911 km land border, has cost so many innocent lives to
date and has presented our country with important responsibilities.

(Source: Anadolu News Agency)

Our country’s approach to the Syrian conflict has been summarized from the official
website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
“The protection of the territorial integrity and the unity of Syria, ending bloodshed in the
country, and the political transformation process towards meeting the legitimate demands of
the people of Syria in a peaceful manner constitute the basic parameters of the policy that our
country has been following since the first day in the face of the developments in Syria ...”

24
This chapter mainly draws on open sources published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (accessed July 7,
2017); available from http://www.mfa.gov.tr/sub.tr.mfa?79a4341a-366e-4b03-ad66-ca59dcfc86f7. In addition,
statements of the National Security Council and open media sources were used.

44 SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT