Turkey’s Evacuation of Suleyman Shah’s Tomb

Remarks

Khaled Khoja

President of the Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

February 22, 2015

President Khoja: At 09:00 pm yesterday evening the Turkish military successfully carried out an operation to evacuate the tomb of Suleyman Shah and were able to secure all troops that had been tasked with guarding the site. The Syrian National Coalition was notified of the operation which was carried out in coordination with the Free Syrian Army.

The operation was conducted legally, based on international treaties and conventions.

The Syrian National Coalition is satisfied that the operation was done peacefully and successfully.

Turkey, which never left the Syrian people, took these steps to preserve the common historical heritage of the Syrian and Turkish peoples.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the Syrian people, I extend my condolences to the Turkish government and to the family of the Turkish soldier who died in an accident during the operation.

We highly appreciate the efforts of the Turkish government, who sided with the Syrian people on the side of the right and supported the Syrian people in their struggle to obtain freedom and dignity, and we express our support for Turkey’s efforts to preserve our people’s common historical heritage.

The Syrian National Coalition and the Turkish government continue to coordinate in order to promote stability in Syria and to enable the Syrian people to restore freedom and dignity.

We thank the Turkish state and the Turkish people for supporting the cause of the Syrian people in all fields.