Turkic Council supports Turkey’s anti-terror operation

In a joint declaration, Turkic countries on Tuesday voiced strong support for Turkey's ongoing anti-terror operation in northern Syria.

"[The leaders] express their hope and belief that Turkey's Operation Peace Spring will contribute to fighting terrorism, ensuring territorial integrity of Syria, liberating local Syrians from the oppression of terrorists and creating conditions for the safe and voluntary return of displaced Syrians to their homeland," the 7th summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) said in the declaration.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

The Turkic Council session was held with the attendance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kazakhstan's founding President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister Purli Agamuradov attended the summit as observers.