Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım evaluated regional developments and shared insight into Turkey’s counterterrorism efforts during the 54th Munich Security Conference on Saturday. The Turkish premier is among main speakers of the three-day conference, Yeni Åžafak reported.
“We have given terrorist organizations the Ottoman slap. We broke the back of the PKK, but it reappeared under a different name,” Yıldırım said while responding to questions during a press conference at the conference.
“They weren’t alone when they reappeared under a different name. They used the weapons which they obtained from the U.S., Russia or other countries through direct or illegitimate ways, and they used those weapons against the people. Do you know that the weapons of different countries are sold online in Syria and terrorist organizations buy them? How could it be defined as counterterrorism? One should answer this question.”
Turkey’s regional counterterrorism efforts
“We are not fighting against any countries. There is fight against terrorism in Syria. This fight is not only conducted by Turkey, but by the countries in the coalition,” Yıldırım said, referring to the Global Coalition Against Daesh (GCAD), which was formed in Sept. 2014 and is committed to defeating the terror group.
“Russia, Iran and Turkey are carrying out this fight. We [Turkey] are a part of NATO, as well as the coalition. We provide aerial support. We support the operations with the air bases which we allow NATO to use. There is no meaning in manipulating the situation. However, if a country treats us as their enemy and decides to wage war against us, we will not hesitate to respond, though we would not like to be in such a situation,” he added.
Operation Olive Branch was initiated on Jan. 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh, and save locals from the terrorists’ oppression and cruelty.
The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.
The military said it is putting the "utmost importance" on not harming any civilians.
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