Page 46 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

Our wish is the ceasefire regime, the start of a real transition period by running a political
process that has been accelerated by the improvement on the conditions of the field provided by
the Astana and Sochi meetings, and this process should be achieved to the peaceful settlement
of a free and democratic system in line with the legitimate demands and expectations of
the Syrian people in which the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Syrians are taken
on a constitutional guarantee on the basis of equality, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion
or sect. Türkiye will continue to resolutely stand beside the Syrian people in this difficult
period and will maintain the protection of Syria’s national unity and territorial integrity
as its main objectives.” 25
III. Our Country’s Approach to the Humanitarian Crisis in Syria and the Refugee
Problem

(Kilis Öncüpınar Container City Visit, Source: Anadolu News Agency)
Our country has also played a very important role in the huge refugee crisis that has
arisen in Syria within the context of the solution to the political crisis in Syria in
addition to the political efforts described in the section above. As Filippo Grandi, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, mentioned in his visit to Türkiye
from August 31 to September 1, 2016, and still retains its validity; today, with more
than 3.4 million Syrians under temporary protection in its territory, Türkiye is the
country with the largest refugee population in the world. 26
25
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, “Türkiye-Syria Political Relations” (accessed
August 25, 2017); available from http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye-suriye-siyasi-iliskileri-.tr.mfa.
26 UNHCR, “Figures at a Glance” (accessed February 2, 2018); available from http://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-
a-glance.html and “Situations” (accessed February 2, 2018); available from http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/
regional.php.

46 SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT