Turkey aims to develop good relations with Syria and Iraq, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Wednesday, adding that the two countries need to be stable for counter-extremism efforts to succeed. "We have developed our ties with Russia and Israel and I am sure that we will develop our relations with Syria," Yıldırım said at a meeting with the provincial leaders of his Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara. "Because it is indeed necessary for peace" in the region, he added. Yıldırım made the comments as he was speaking about the need for Turkey to boost its diplomatic ties in the region. He pointed out that insisting on war in Syria would be a crime against humanity after displacing more than 9 million people in a country. "All forces in the country should evaluate the situation in Syria once again," Yıldırım said and added, "They should give up their competition". "To develop relations with all neighbors including Syria and Iraq is our indispensable aim," Turkish Primier highlighted. Yıldırım said that a good future was only possible with "unity, solidarity and good neighborliness". In an earlier statement the PM said his government was willing to restore ties with Egyptian authorities but "they should re-evaluate their doings" during the last years after toppling the country's first elected President Mohamed Morsi and his followers. Ankara's recent moves to establish good relations came after Yıldırım was assigned as Turkish PM on May 24. After taking over his duty Yıldırım announced that his government will make good relations with neighboring countries.
