Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called on Friday for greater regional unity to confront attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon and Syria, voicing hope that recent developments in Syria would revive historic trade and economic ties between Lebanese, Syrian and Turkish cities.
Erdogan, President of the Board of Trustees of the Knowledge Dissemination Foundation, made the remarks in the northern city of Tripoli on the second day of his visit to Lebanon, where he was welcomed by political and religious figures and locals.
Speaking after prayers at the Grand Mansouri Mosque, his first stop in the city, Bilal Erdogan said he had brought a message from his father to the Lebanese people, aimed at strengthening relations and bonds of brotherhood between the two countries.
He also voiced hope for an end to war and conflict in Lebanon, paving the way for stability, recovery and prosperity similar to the development Türkiye had experienced over the past 24 years.
"God willing, this visit will help end the war in Lebanon and bring prosperity and recovery, as happened in Türkiye over the past 24 years," Bilal Erdogan said.
Turning to Syria, said recent developments could help restore the historic ties and shared economic interests linking cities across Lebanon, Syria and Türkiye.
"God willing, with the recent developments in Syria, the bonds of shared destiny between Beirut, Tripoli, Antakya, Damascus, Gaziantep and Istanbul will be restored, as they were in the past," he said.
"The people of these cities will once again engage in trade, cooperation, partnership and brotherhood."
He stressed the need to revive cooperation between Tripoli and cities in Syria and Türkiye, strengthening economic and social ties and reconnecting communities across the region.
Addressing Israeli attacks, Bilal Erdogan said regional unity and solidarity could deter further assaults and prevent wars from continuing.
He cited what he described as genocide in Gaza, violations against villages and homes in the West Bank, destruction in southern Lebanon and attacks in Syria.
“Those demolishing homes and seizing land in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria and southern Lebanon would not dare continue if the region's peoples stood united,” he said.
Bilal Erdogan toured Tripoli's old markets, the Mevlevi lodge, citadel and several Ottoman-era mosques.
He is due to visit Kouachra in the northern Akkar region on Saturday to meet residents of Turkmen descent before traveling to Beirut for talks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who will host a luncheon in his honor to conclude the visit.
He kicked off his Lebanon visit on Thursday with meetings with President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian and Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut Elias Audeh.
