President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Türkiye would press ahead with efforts to achieve a “terror-free” country, predicting that regional conflicts would give way to peace and stability.

“ No one will be able to stand between us and our goal of a terror-free Türkiye,” Erdogan said in a speech at the opening of Şanlıurfa City Hospital in southeastern Türkiye.

“We will reach those days when terror is replaced with serenity, instability with prosperity and conflicts with peace in our entire region,” he said.

Erdogan said developments in neighbouring Syria and Iraq were creating conditions for greater regional security. He said the fall of Syria’s former government and the establishment of a new administration friendly to Ankara had opened a new chapter, while an integration process was helping address security challenges there.

He also said security was being restored in parts of Iraq that had experienced years of instability.

Erdogan said Türkiye remained determined to advance its initiative to end terrorism and promote peace and economic development across the region, including in Iraq, Syria, Iran and Lebanon.

At the ceremony, Erdogan also highlighted government investment in healthcare in Şanlıurfa, saying a total of 61 billion lira ($1.4 billion) had been invested in the province’s health sector to date. The figure was announced by Erdogan; the dollar equivalent is approximate.

The president congratulated the engineers, technicians, workers and institutions involved in building the hospital.

The opening comes as Erdogan’s government continues to pursue its stated goal of ending terrorism in Türkiye and improving security across its borders. (ILKHA)