TURKEY IS FIGHTING AGAINST TERRORISM, NOT THE KURDS
- Murat ÖMEROĞLU*
Turkey has a proven track record in contributing to counter-terrorism efforts in Syria, and is a committed member of the Global Coalition against DEASH (aka ISIS). Turkey has always been at the forefront of the efforts to combat DEASH. We will remain so.
The threat of terrorism originating from Syria and targeting our borders is, unfortunately, not limited to DEASH. During the last two years, especially from the east of River Euphrates, we have been exposed to more than hundred cases of attacks or hostile acts by PYD/YPG, the Syrian offshoot of PKK which is designated as a terrorist organization by both the EU and NATO.
We could have no longer tolerated the presence of terrorists at our borders. We were compelled to act and therefore we launched “Operation Peace Spring”.
The main objectives of this operation will be to ensure Turkey’s border security, neutralize terrorists in the region and save Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of these terrorists.
The operation is being carried out on the basis of international law, in accordance with the right of self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The goal of Operation Spring Peace is to secure Turkey’s border and create a safe zone for Syrian refugees to return to their home safely and voluntarily. A safe zone free from terror will encourage these Syrians, including more than 300 thousand Syrian Kurds taking refuge in Turkey, to voluntarily return to their homes. In this regard, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure is our top priority.
In fact, Turkey has best practices in terms of liberating areas from terrorism and facilitating safe and voluntary returns of Syrians. In northwest Syria, more than 360 thousand Syrians returned from Turkey to their homes in areas cleared of terrorists by Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch.
I must also add that Turkey has no plans whatsoever to modify the demographic structure in the operation area. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict, PYD/YPG terrorist organization has oppressed and intimidated the local population, the Syrian Kurds in particular, and forcibly displaced them. The crimes which PYD/YPG committed against humanity, first and foremost the practices of ethnic cleansing, have been documented by independent international organizations.
Our operation will give a chance to at least one million displaced Syrians, including Kurds, Arabs, Christians alike, to return to their ancestors’ lands after having been subject to ethnic cleansing by PYD/YPG. Our goal is to enable everyone to return home, be it Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians or other ethnic and religious groups. These objectives I believe are also shared and welcomed by Greece and the EU.
This vision is also recognized and supported by the Syrian National Coalition and the Syrian Interim Government, as the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people, along with the tribal representatives, Kurdish and Christian leaders across the region.
The operation is ongoing and two major cities have been liberated so far from terrorist elements without any collateral damage due to the extreme care shown by the Turkish Armed Forces. Therefore, it is of great importance not to fall prey to fake news disseminated by the PYD/YPG terrorist group through its mouth-piece media outlets and social media. Actually it is the PYD/YPG terrorists targeting civilians inside Turkey from their positions in northeastern Syria. These mortar attacks have claimed lives of number of civilians including a 9-month old baby.
In conclusion, I remain confident that our allies both in NATO and in the wider region will support and benefit from the security that will come along as a result of this operation.
* Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Komotini
