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“A roadmap for the return of refugees will be drawn up soon. An analysis will be made to ensure how quickly they return,” Erdogan said in an interview with TRT Haber.
Turkey has already repatriated 450,000 Syrian refugees, and Erdogan has revealed plans to repatriate another 1 million refugees.
“We plan to send another 1 million refugees there,” Erdogan said.
The Syrian refugee issue has been a topic of intense debate in Turkish politics, and its importance has been underscored in this year’s presidential election campaign. Opposition leader Kemal Kilidaroglu has promised that if he wins, he intends to bid farewell to the refugees within two years.
Kilicdaroglu proposed that Ankara normalize diplomatic relations with the Syrian government, including a joint agreement with Syria to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees and start a joint reconstruction effort in Syria with the assistance of Turkish companies, UN and EU funds.
By contrast, Erdogan’s government has pursued diplomatic avenues to expand ties with Syria through talks brokered by Russia and Iran.
About 3.5 million Syrians live in Turkey, according to January figures from the Turkish Migration Service.
Erdogan narrowly beat his political opponent in the first round of the 2023 presidential election on May 14. He needs less than 0.5 percent of the vote to extend his presidency, while his rival and opposition leader Kemal Kilidaroglu received 44.8 percent of the first-round total.
A run-off election is scheduled for May 28, with both leading candidates expressing confidence they will get the votes needed to become president.
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