Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar al-Ja’afari, stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s goal is to “revive” the Ottoman Empire.

The Syrian diplomat wrote about this in his letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council, reported RIA Novosti news agency of Russia.    

The Syrian envoy said it was Erdoğan’s intention to revive “the Ottoman colonial legacy.” Ja’afari pointed to the Turkish leader’s statements on protecting people of Turkish descent a few years ago, ignoring the fact that they might be citizens of other countries.

Ja’afari also noted that Turkey assisted the terrorists in infiltrating into Syria.

“Turkish interference in Syria's internal affairs took many forms, including direct involvement of the regime of Erdogan, the Turkish armed forces in offensive military operations in support of terrorists,” Ja’afari wrote in the letter. 

Syria’s envoy also accused Turkey of committing crimes against Syrian refugees who have fled to Turkey, and called on the UN “to take a firm stand” to “put an end to these violations and crimes” committed by Ankara.