UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY FOREIGN MINISTER, ADDS BACKGROUND ON TURKISH OPERATION IN SYRIA
By Ali Murat Alhas and Zehra Nur Düz
ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's foreign minister on Saturday called on Germany to act in line with the “spirit of alliance” on Turkey’s anti-terrorism operation in northern Syria.
“What we expect from Germany is that it acts in line with the spirit of alliance,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in the capital Ankara.
Cavusoglu said that YPG/PKK terror group’s affiliates in Germany had harassed and attacked Turkish citizens, and urged German security officials to act against such elements.
“Turkey is the country most sensitive to issues of Syria's territorial integrity and voluntary return of refugees,” he said, adding that some countries -- including Israel and France -- placed little importance on Syria’s territorial integrity when it was YPG/PKK terrorists trying to divide the country.
He also said that over 30,000 displaced Syrians had returned to northern Syria since the Oct. 9 launch of Turkey’s anti-terror operation there, according to UN data.
Commenting on the U.S. president and senators praising Ferhat Abdi Sahin (Mazloum Kobani), the terrorist YPG/PKK’s ringleader, he said: “It is unacceptable that the U.S. establishes dialogue with a terrorist sought by Interpol.”
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, 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 is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.