Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday mentioned Ankara is not going to tolerate terrorism in Syria underneath any circumstances.
“There is no way we will tolerate the continuation of terrorism in Syria,” Fidan instructed a joint news convention along with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Qatar’s capital Doha.
Fidan started his two-day go to to the Gulf nation on Sunday.
Stressing the significance of guaranteeing safety in all of Syria, the place a brand new administration is in place after the autumn of Bashar al-Assad in December, he mentioned: “It is important for armed groups (in Syria) to come together under a national army.”
On terrorism, Fidan mentioned it’s also essential for each Türkiye and Syria to proceed the struggle in opposition to each PKK/YPG and ISIS (Daesh) terror teams.
“At the moment, the Damascus administration’s efforts to find a solution, especially for the YPG, are continuing. As Türkiye, we are following this closely,” he mentioned, expressing hope that the issue can be solved with out bloodshed.
Fidan mentioned the US relationship with the PKK/YPG terror group was introduced as “temporary cooperation” through the Barack Obama period, however Türkiye foresaw from the very starting that this could result in sure issues.
“In the process, of course, the fact that the (terrorist) organization gradually abused Americans and other Western countries and that there was a serious increase in the terrorist threat against Türkiye in return for the prison services it provided, constituted an unacceptable situation for us,” Fidan mentioned, including that this was shared with US officers.
He mentioned the PKK/YPG gives “prison services” for ISIS prisoners, however doesn’t have the flexibility to struggle ISIS alone, and is itself a terrorist group.
“In this regard, Türkiye, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan are all able to coming collectively and waging the mandatory struggle in opposition to ISIS. Hopefully, we are going to take a step on this course as 4 nations within the close to future.
“We have already held preliminary talks on this matter. We hope that our American friends will give up this policy that poses a threat to Türkiye,” he mentioned.
The Turkish overseas minister highlighted that one other formulation may very well be employed to make it attainable for the detainees of the ISIS terror group to stay imprisoned.
The new administration in Syria is able to assume accountability on this respect and Türkiye is able to present all type of assist, Fidan underscored.
He expressed hope that US President Donald Trump will “put an end to this ongoing mistake in the region,” including that this case each triggered regional instability and broken Türkiye-US relations.
Fidan additionally urged the lifting of worldwide sanctions on Syria, which is recovering from 14 years of civil conflict, and underscored the significance of taking severe steps within the reconstruction of the war-torn nation, and its power wants.
Türkiye has lengthy complained of the US working with the PKK/YPG on the pretext of preventing Daesh/ISIS. Turkish officers say utilizing one terrorist group to struggle one other is mindless.
Ankara has launched a trio of profitable anti-terror operations since 2016 throughout its border in northern Syria to stop the formation of a terror hall and allow the peaceable settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).
In its 40-year terror marketing campaign in opposition to Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the US and the European Union — has been liable for the deaths of greater than 40,000 folks, together with ladies, kids and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.
– Türkiye-Qatar ties
Pointing to optimistic relations between Türkiye and Qatar, Fidan mentioned: “The relations between the 2 nations are at a strategic stage. These relations are based mostly on a sure sincerity, professionalism, brotherhood, and religion, and have strong foundations.
“A relationship that has been carefully built brick by brick by our leaders for years. Of course, everyone sees the positive contribution of this relationship to the peace, security, prosperity and economy of the region.”
Fidan mentioned the bilateral ties additionally assist convey options to regional issues.
– Cooperation in Syria
Pointing out that Türkiye is working with the brand new administration in Syria, Fidan mentioned “it is extremely important” that the subsequent political course of is carried out by the Syrian authorities in an inclusive, mature, and democratic method.”
He mentioned the Syrian folks have quite a few issues awaiting answer, emphasizing that Türkiye and Qatar are in shut cooperation in each discipline.
The overseas minister mentioned they’re engaged on what could be accomplished within the power, transportation and communication sectors.
– Ceasefire in Gaza
Fidan mentioned the uninterrupted continuation of the three-phase ceasefire in Gaza, which took maintain on Jan. 19, is a precedence for Türkiye, and thanked the Qatari and Egyptian sides for his or her contribution in reaching the deal.
He emphasised the significance of taking all types of steps to keep up the truce and to stop the genocide dedicated by Israel within the area from resuming.
Referring to the significance of uninterrupted supply of humanitarian help to the area, Fidan mentioned there are issues once in a while and that Israel ought to hand over its obstructive conduct.
Stressing that the worldwide group mustn’t lose its sensitivity on this concern and do its greatest, Fidan mentioned: “All our institutions are mobilized. We are in an effort to coordinate with Egypt and other partner countries on how we can deliver our aid to Gaza in the best and fastest way possible.”
The Turkish diplomat wished that the Palestinian-Israeli battle could be resolved on the idea of a two-state answer.”Otherwise, renewed conflicts, renewed fights will always continue to trigger instability in our region. As regional countries, as we did in Palestine and Syria, we will continue to embrace the problems of the region as regional countries, and we will continue to bring region-specific, regional solutions to them,” he mentioned.
Asked a couple of clause included within the Gaza ceasefire deal requiring some launched Palestinian prisoners to not stay within the Palestinian territories, Fidan mentioned: “We noticed this concern within the case of (Israeli soldier) Gilad Shalit.
“We were asked to take some Palestinians and we accepted. Now, our president (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) has expressed readiness to host some Palestinians, those who have been released, together with other countries to support the agreement.”
Highlighting that Türkiye would “do its part” on this matter, he expressed Ankara’s want to see the present truce turn out to be a everlasting ceasefire.
On Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, Fidan mentioned Ankara is “completely opposed” to the suggestion, which, he mentioned, is in opposition to humanitarian legislation.
He pressured that everybody ought to stand in opposition to the plan, and that Türkiye helps the latest pushback by Arab nations. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Palestinian Authority joined Jordan and Egypt in rejecting the thought in Cairo on Saturday.
Source: www.anews.com.tr