Claims that Turkey targets Kurds are irrational: Spokesman Kalin

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA

Responding to U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton's remarks, Turkish presidential spokesman on Sunday said claims that Turkey targets Kurds are “irrational,” as the country is fighting Daesh and PKK/PYD/YPG terrorists.

In a statement, Ibrahim Kalin said: “The issue is PKK/PYD/YPG are making efforts to establish an order by oppressing Kurds, who don’t obey them, and their terrorist activities against our country.”

“There is no doubt that a terror group cannot be an ally of the U.S.,” Kalin said.

Earlier on Sunday, Bolton said the U.S. will not withdraw troops from northeastern Syria until Turkish government guarantees fight against Daesh and that it won’t attack “Kurdish fighters,” referring to YPG/PKK terrorist group.

Kalin highlighted that Turkey’s aim in fight against terrorism is to provide national security, and ensure regional peace and stability.

He noted that Turkey is the only NATO member which is countering the terror group PKK and its Syrian branches of PYD and YPG, as well as other terrorists of Daesh and FETO.

The presidential spokesman said the country was going to coordinate with its allies and the countries in the region in fight against terrorism, while resolutely implementing the policies required for the national security.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s principle that “we will be both on the ground and at the table” clearly explains that both military and diplomatic means are always open for the national interests, Kalin said.

He stressed that Turkey’s aim was to clear Syria of all terror groups, to protect its territorial integrity and provide political and social conditions for the safe return of Syrians to their country by protecting lives of the civilians.

Kalin said PYD and YPG were Syrian branches of PKK terrorist group, which continue their acts on the pretext of fighting against Daesh, added: "They cannot represent Syrian Kurds."

"It's disrespectful to our Kurdish brothers to claim they are represented by a terror group," he added.

Kalin said Turkey's aim while fighting against PKK and its Syrian branches is "to rescue Kurds from the tyranny and oppression of this terror group and to ensure their safety of life and property."