Erdogan: Iraq has begun restoring security to areas that lacked stability for years

Follow-up – Al-Wasat Iraqi newspaper

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Iraq has begun restoring security to areas that have lacked stability for years.

Erdogan said in remarks followed by Al-Wasat Iraqi newspaper: "In our entire region, peace will replace terrorism, prosperity will replace instability, and peace will take the place of clashes."

He added, "In Syria, our neighbor, the oppressive regime whose hands are stained with the blood of nearly a million Syrians has collapsed and has been replaced by a new regime friendly to Turkey," confirming, "Now, with phases of integration, the problem of terrorism is being solved."

The Turkish president continued: "In Iraq as well, areas that lacked security for years, security structures have begun to be reestablished there."

Erdogan pointed out that "Turkey's goal is to be free of terrorism, and no one will be able to stand between us and that."