</p> <p>By Abdullah Dogan</p> <p>KONYA, Turkey (AA) – Turkey is home to some 4.7 million foreigners from 192 countries, according to an official of migration office.</p> <p>"It is not just Syrians living in Turkey. Today, we have 4.7 million foreigners among us. They contribute Turkey's culture and create added-value," said Gokce Ok, deputy head of migration office of Interior Ministry, speaking at a meeting in central Konya province on Tuesday.
Ok said Syrian civil war forced oppressed people to flee to Turkey.
“Among these people, there are managers of multinational corporations; doctors, engineers, scientists and athletes. Throughout the history, Anatolia has been an attraction center, more like a mosaic, ” he said.
Also, Aydin Keskin Kadioglu, a senior official from the communications department of migration office, said Turkey would always welcome the oppressed victims regardless of their language, religion, color or ethnicity.
Recalling Turkey's open-border policy since 2011, Kadioglu said, “Today in Turkey, there are more than 3.6 million documented Syrians, who are under temporary protection status. ”
Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed or displaced in the conflict, mainly by regime airstrikes targeting opposition-held areas.
*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas
