Turkey: Fight against YPG/PKK terrorists crucial

By Durmus Genc

MUGLA, Turkey

The fight against terror organizations at its southern borders is important for Turkey, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting in the Aegean province of Bodrum, Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara is in coordination with the U.S., Russia, Iran and some western nations over a decision to withdraw American troops from Syria.

"This withdrawal cannot be a process that will create space for the YPG and PKK terrorist organizations or protect them. We cannot allow this."

In international relations, he said, there are no permanent friends or enemies.

Referring to previous differences with the U.S., Cavusoglu said NATO allies and other friendly nations "should treat Turkey at an equal footing".

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of American troops from Syria in December, claiming they had defeated Daesh, their only reason for intervening in the country.

Amid pushback from within his administration and from key U.S. lawmakers, Trump later signaled a "slow and highly coordinated pullout" from the war-torn country.

When Trump proposed the idea of a terror-free safe zone in northern Syria in mid-January, he and other U.S. officials demanded Turkey guarantee it will not conduct an operation against YPG/PKK terrorists.

Turkey backed the idea of a safe zone, but opposed the U.S. request for protection of the YPG/PKK.

In its 30-year terrorist campaign, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.

Turkey has said it is planning a counter-terrorist operation into Syria targeting the YPG/PKK, following two successful operations since 2016.