ANKARA, TURKEY - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said that Turkey will join the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist organizations, but it will not change its move to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.

In a privilege speech, Erdogan said that Turkey "will fight effectively against both IS and all other terrorist organizations within the region. This will always be our priority."

Like Us on Facebook

"We will also continue to prioritize our aim to remove the Syrian regime, to help protect the territorial integrity of Syria and to encourage a constitutional, parliamentary government system which embraces all of its citizens," he added.

Erdogan said Turkey is "open and ready for any cooperation in the fight against terrorism. However, it should be understood by everybody that Turkey is not a country in pursuit of temporary solutions nor will Turkey allow others to take advantage of it."

During this week, the Turkish government deployed armoured cars and tanks along its border with Syria as US-led airstrikes against the IS in Syria continued.

Earlier, the Turkish government passed a proposal to its Parliament which requested for extension of authority and powers for military cross-border intrusions.

Meanwhile, Erdogan said that attacks on IS should be coupled with good and effective political strategy. Otherwise, this will just strengthen Assad as well as the Kurds-allied rebels in Turkey.

Erdogan also said that Turkey is, likewise, prioritizing the Syrian refugees who opted to stay in Turkey. Most of these refugees are victims of the never ending Syrian war.

The move to join the US-led attack against IS was prompted when the Turkish army monitored the growing presence of IS members along the Syrian border.

Turkey shares with Turkey and Iraq a 750-mile borderline. Also, Turkey is accommodating around 1.5-million war refugees from Syria.

TagsTurkey, IS, tayyip erdogan, Bashar al-Assad