PodcastArabs ought to live in Idlib as it is a desert: Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Idlib is suitable for Arabs to live in due to the fact that the area is a desert. "Those areas are not appropriate for Kurds' life styles, because they are desert areas," he said.
Duvar English
Arabs are the most appropriate people to live in Syria's Idlib because the area is a desert, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, as he commented on the future of the rebel-held region.
"Arabs are the most suitable ones for that area. Those areas are not appropriate for Kurds' life styles, because they are desert areas," Erdoğan told state broadcaster TRT on Oct. 24, adding that the cooperation between Russia, Iran and Turkey prevented a bloodbath in Idlib.
The President was referring to Astana peace process, which was launched in 2017 by Russia and Iran, allies of Damascus, and rebel-backer Turkey with the aim of ending the Syrian war.
As part of the process, a ceasefire was implemented in the area.
"Some 300,000 to 400,000 people have started to walk towards us [Turkish border]. They stopped when a ceasefire was implemented," Erdoğan said, adding that the important thing is to "keep this accumulation under control and create a controlled life in that massive area."