Turkish Cypriots 'fully' back Turkey on terror fight

ANKARA

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will "fully" back Turkey's rightful fight against terrorism, Turkish Cypriot's top diplomat said on Wednesday.

"As a deputy prime minister and foreign minister, I want to stress once again that my government and nation fully and completely back the Republic of Turkey and its nation on their rightful fight against terrorism. No one doubts that," Kudret Ozersay told the members of Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee.

Turkish Cypriot will also back Turkey's steps to ensure its borders security and territorial integrity in the future, Ozersay said.

The two countries have "historical and emotional ties," he noted.

"We have strong and deep relations," he added.

Ozersay's remarks came after Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci's controversial remarks on Turkey's ongoing Syria operation.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.