ANKARA

Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria will protect children from joining PKK terror group, the Turkish parliament's children's rights committee head said on Wednesday.

"The operation aims to protect so many children, women and disadvantaged groups from terror disaster," Radiye Sezer Katircioglu said in a meeting at the Turkish parliament with UNICEF Representative Philippe Duamelle.

Turkey's anti-terror operation will prevent children from joining the PKK terror group, she noted.

"Our children will not hold on to weapons but to pencils, and they will become teachers, artists, politicians in their countries.

"Our children, notably girls, will go on with their lives just like the children in Europe," said Katircioglu.

Operation Peace Spring, launched on Oct. 9, aims to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK elements from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara agreed with Washington on Oct. 17 to pause its operation to allow YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from the planned safe zone.

On Oct. 22, Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with Syria within 150 hours, and security forces from Turkey and Russia will mount joint patrols there.

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 the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG/PKK is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

Duamelle, for his part, said investment on children meant investment in that country's future.

"All children should have education, so that the societies can develop," he said.