Turkey 'active coalition member' in fight against Daesh

By Hasan Esen

TALLINN, Estonia (AA) – Turkey is one of the most active countries in the coalition fighting the terrorist group Daesh in Iraq and Syria, Ankara’s foreign minister said on Thursday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu’s comments came after a meeting with his Estonian counterpart Jurgen Ligi in the capital Tallinn.

Cavusoglu said at least 3,000 fighters taking part in the operation to liberate the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from Daesh had been trained by Turkey in the nearby Bashiqa military camp.

He added Turkey was taking part in every step in the Mosul operation.

Responding to a question on Bashiqa camp, Cavusoglu said Ankara was trying to solve a spat with Iraq’s government by diplomatic means. He said a Turkish delegation visited Baghdad last week and another group from Iraq was expected to visit Ankara.

The Iraqi government took exception to Turkey’s military base in Bashiqa, around 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Mosul, established to provide training to Iraqi local forces to battle Daesh.

Ankara has said it wants to play an active role in the ongoing Mosul offensive against Daesh but has encountered opposition from Baghdad.

The Turkish minister stated Iraq was Turkey’s important neighbor and said the country's "stability and security are vital for us".

“We are supporting their sovereignty and territorial integrity more than any country in Europe, not only in the region,” he said.

Estonian minister Ligi said his country was supporting Turkey’s process on European Union membership.

“The EU accession process is important for all member states as well as future members and candidates. We support Turkey in its accession process as well as visa liberalization,” he added.

Commenting on the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey -- which martyred 241 people and wounded 2,200 others -- Ligi described the insurrection as “shocking”.

Cavusoglu met earlier in the day with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid.