Turkey won't turn its back on East or West, says Erdoğan

Turkey will maintain its active foreign policy and stand with oppressed nations in line with its national and international interests, the country's president told a major ruling party convention on March 24. 

Situated at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, Turkey does not have the luxury of turning its back on either the East or West, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, adding that it will set its foreign policy while protecting its own national and international rights.

Speaking at the 7th Grand Ordinary Congress of AKP in the capital Ankara, Erdogan commented on a range of
issues such as Turkey's development under his party, the economy, and foreign policy.

In recent months, Turkey has taken a milder tone in its foreign relations, and Erdoğan said the country would win over more friends in the international arena and turn the region into a region of peace.

Stressing that Turkish assistance to war-weary Libya improved the situation for its people, Erdogan said now Libya can continue its democratic process and look to the future with hope.

Following the March 10 vote of confidence for new Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Libyans hope to end the years of civil war that have engulfed the country since the ouster of late strongman Muammar al-Qaddafi in 2011.

While Turkey remains one of the countries most affected by the Syrian civil war, as it hosts over 3.6 million displaced Syrians, more than any other country in the world, it will continue to stand with Syrians, said Erdoğan.

"Turkey will continue its efforts, continue to stand by the Syrian people until Syria truly becomes a country run by Syrians," he added.

Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011, when the...

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