ANKARA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said "We would strive for the ideal contribution that Turkey can make in a process intended to achieve peace (in Syria)," upon his arrival in Turkish capital Ankara at 6.20 p.m. local time.
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay and Ankara Governor Alaaddin Yuksel and other politicians, welcomed Erdogan, who was accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan as well as Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Youth and Sports Suat Kilic and Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas, at Esenboga Airport.
Upon his return, Erdogan held a press conference and said the world could not ignore the chemical attack in Syria which killed hundreds of people.
"It is clearly impossible for whoever is a mother or father to forget the lifeless bodies of little children. But those who do not appreciate the compassion that a mother or father feels, turn a blind eye to such graphic scenes. If there are still politicians, both in Turkey and around the world, who can ignore the situation (in Syria), it is a reflection of their share in human compassion," Erdogan said.
Regarding Turkey's role in a possible military operation in Syria, Erdogan said, "We would strive for the ideal contribution that Turkey can make in a process intended to achieve peace."
- Antidoping efforts
Touching on the doping issue, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan highlighted that Turkey made regulations as part of its antidoping efforts, with a "zero tolerance" policy.
"We have no mercy in this issue. Whoever dares to resort to such a thing, that person's sports career will end in Turkey. We have clearly asserted our resolute stance against doping," he added.
