Erdogan: To Complete Remaining Work in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that his country will secure its entire border with Iraq by next summer and will continue its operations in Syria. Erdogan stated, "We will surely complete the remaining tasks in Syria." He added, "Our goal is to raise our children (Turkey free from the shadow of dark terrorism, and a country with a bright path)." The Turkish president emphasized that having a strong army is "not an option, but a necessity for us." He affirmed, "We are a state, a people, and an army that must always maintain its deterrence at the highest levels." The Turkish president is scheduled to visit Iraq before the end of April to discuss various issues concerning the two countries, according to Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Yildiz.