By Zuhal Demirci
ANKARA
Turkey pursued an "enterprising and humanitarian" foreign policy based on national values and a principle of "peace at home, peace in the world" in 2018.
The country aims to achieve peace, prosperity and stability in the region and beyond with its "enterprising and humanitarian" foreign policy.
Efforts to solve Syrian crisis
Turkey played a leading role in the international arena to help resolve Syrian crisis and made important contributions to prevent illegal immigration.
Ankara hosted a tripartite summit of Turkey, Iran and Russia on April 4 to discuss the crisis.
Separately, a summit of four nations -- Turkey, Russia, France and Germany -- was also organized in Istanbul on Oct. 27.
Turkey hosted wide range of international events
Turkey hosted numerous high-level international events and conferences and continued its peacemaking efforts.
An emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was held in Istanbul on May 18 upon the call of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
The U.S.’s unilateral move was rejected at the summit.
29 presidential and 79 Foreign Ministry-level foreign visits were carried out in 2018.
Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Iran Quartet Cooperation Mechanism Roadmap was constituted in order to increase the confidence among the region countries.
Fight against terrorism
Turkey resolutely continued its fight against all terrorist organizations, including YPG/PKK, FETO and Daesh in its soil and abroad.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and the Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.
FETO-linked schools and other entities in various countries have been closed, transferred or banned.
EU membership among strategic objectives
A positive dialogue and normalization process began between Turkey and the European countries of Germany, Austria and Netherlands in 2018.
Turkey ranked among the top five countries in terms of highest diplomatic missions abroad.
The total number of Turkey's foreign representative offices rose to 240 and it will reach 270 in the future. The foreign countries’ representation in Turkey has also increased rapidly with 273 offices.
