Turkey does not have any problem with its Kurdish brothers, but rather with terrorist organizations, says President Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday urged the world to understand that YPG/PKK terror group is as dangerous as Daesh.
"For democracy, rule of law and human rights, I invite the whole world to see, accept and take a position. YPG/PKK is as dangerous a terrorist organization as Daesh," Erdoğan said, at a ceremony for new district governors in the capital Ankara.
He reiterated that Turkey does not have any problem with its Kurdish brothers, but rather with terrorist organizations.
Erdoğan also mentioned that a safe zone in northern Syria will allow nearly 2 million Syrian refugees to return to their homes.
On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists 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.
On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi.
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 northern Syria within 150 hours and security forces from Turkey and Russia will conduct 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 is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.
