UPDATE 3 - Türkiye determined to eliminate all threats to its existence at ‘their source’: Foreign minister

​​​​​​​ADDS REMARKS BY FOREIGN MINISTER

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye has the capacity, power, and “most importantly, determination” to eliminate all threats to its existence “at their source,” said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday, referring to the PKK/YPG terrorist organization.

“Nothing will be the same as before. The old order will not continue. In the new order in Syria, no one has the luxury of using statements with 'but' or 'however,’” Fidan said.

The end of the road is now in sight for the PKK terror group and its affiliates in Syria, Fidan told reporters.

Clearing the Syrian territory of terrorism will be Türkiye’s main priorities in 2025, said Fidan, pointing out that the primary target of all terrorist organizations operating in this region has always been Türkiye.

"Naturally, our country is also leading the most effective fight against terrorism. But let me make this clear and straightforward,” he added.

Fidan urged the countries “showing a biased stance” in the fight against terrorism to learn a lesson from the recent terrorist attacks.

Adding that terrorism has no religion or nationality, Fidan highlighted the need for everyone to notice that terrorist organizations do not differentiate between Europe, America, or Türkiye.

Fidan also stated that Ankara would continue to fight against both ISIS (Daesh) and the PKK with the same determination, without any distinction.

“We will, with God’s permission, achieve our goal of a terror-free Türkiye, one way or another,” he said.

“We have said it repeatedly. We cannot live with such a threat (from PKK/YPG). Either someone else will take action, or we will,” he added.

On France’s remarks during the US secretary of state's visit to Paris, Fidan said that Türkiye ignores countries that attempt to further their own interests in Syria by using US power.

“We frankly don't take into account countries (like France) that try to advance their own interests in Syria by using US power, hiding behind it,” he added.

Touching on the stance of France toward PKK/YPG, Fidan accused Paris for hiding behind the US.

“I don't believe the policies developed by some small European countries, who participate in certain operations under America's umbrella and then speak out from there, contribute either to themselves or to the region.

“If they can come to the region and carry out operations and deploy military forces without US’ involvement, let’s see. But we know that’s not the case. Our interlocutor on this matter is the US. We are talking to the US, not the countries trailing behind it,” he said.

- Relations with neighboring, regional countries

Noting that the region is tired of wars and conflicts, Fidan underlined the need for lasting peace, solidarity, and cooperation “more than ever,” adding that “the spirit of the time” has made solidarity, development, and cooperation necessary.

Highlighting that Türkiye is focused on building strong partnerships with its neighbors, continuing to boost its alliances with many countries in the region, conducting intense and proactive diplomacy, Fidan said Türkiye has become “an active and respected international player.”

He also stated that despite all the attacks, provocations, and obstacles, Ankara has defended justice, humanity, and rights through its Syria policy, which it has pursued with strategic patience since 2011.

“As someone who has worked intensively on Syria for the past 13 years, seeing this result is, of course, pleasing to all of us. I can say that our story regarding Syria is just beginning. The Syrian people are now facing major challenges, particularly in the reconstruction of the country,” he said.

After the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Türkiye quickly began to support the country’s reconstruction and development efforts, such as opening the Turkish Embassy in Damascus within a week, and active institutions working on the ground, Fidan said, adding that the elements that form “the main axis” of Ankara's Syria policy remain today "the main prescription for the stabilization" of the country.

“On this occasion, I would like to reiterate that the main axis of Türkiye’s foreign policy is peace, cooperation, solidarity, and prosperity. Türkiye has no territorial ambitions in any country, nor does it have any hidden agendas,” he added.

Stating that Ankara is shaping its policy in this direction, Fidan urged regional and neighboring countries also to be in this direction.

He called on the regional countries to build a culture of cooperation and development in the region, “rather than policies of pressure and reinforcement.”

Fidan expressed hope that in the future, the transition process in Syria would be completed with a comprehensive approach based on the preservation of Syria’s territorial integrity and unity.

He underlined that Ankara’s foreign policy principles are not only focused on combating terrorism but also include supporting countries fighting terrorism, stating that Türkiye considers Iraq's security and stability inseparable from its own.

Noting the positive momentum in relations with Greece in 2024, Fidan stated they would continue to maintain high-level dialogue through mutual visits, and that this pace would continue into 2025.

"Our differences with Greece are being addressed within the framework of well-functioning bilateral dialogue mechanisms. Acting in the spirit of good neighborliness is beneficial for both countries and the region," he added.

- Israeli attacks on Palestine

Stating that Israel “emboldened by the impunity it enjoys” not only failed to end its attacks in Palestine but also extended the war to other countries in the region, Fidan said that from the beginning of the war, Türkiye’s goal is to expose Israel's actions to the world and put an end to the atrocities the Palestinians are facing.

“While mobilizing all our resources, we also took initiatives to engage the international community. We are the country that has sent the most aid to Gaza. So far, we have sent over 88,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he added.

Emphasizing that Türkiye has taken necessary steps to activate international mechanisms to hold Israel accountable under international law for its actions, particularly its attacks on Gaza, Fidan, referring to Tel Aviv’s attacks on Lebanon, said: “Although a cease-fire has been reached in Lebanon, today we are facing a humanitarian crisis with over a million people displaced.”

“Naturally, the cease-fire in Lebanon alone is not enough to extinguish the fire in our region. Until the bloodshed in Palestine stops, peace and tranquility will not be achieved in the region,” he warned.

Ankara is actively supporting all existing efforts on reaching a cease-fire in Gaza, said Fidan, reiterating that the lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved via a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine issue.

On the ongoing genocidal war in Palestinian lands, Fidan said that leaving Palestinians landless and stateless is “absolutely unacceptable.”

“As long as this historical injustice is not addressed, it will be impossible to find a fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue or overcome the challenges faced by the Muslim world,” he added, reaffirming Türkiye’s support for Palestinians

-Syria

Emphasizing that since Dec. 8, a new perspective has emerged in Turkey's policy on the PKK/YPG and the possible timeline of their ultimatum, he pointed out that there will be a government in Damascus that represents the people, embraces all of Syria and will end the suffering and oppression the people have endured.

He added that the new administration will have an agenda to end the occupation and terror created by the PKK/YPG in the region, while taking steps toward ensuring Syria's national unity, territorial integrity and political cohesion.

Noting that Türkiye is in a very new phase and, although it have been only a month, he added that Ankara will reconsider its presence in the region, suggesting it will need to evolve into a different dimension.

"Our aim is to eliminate a threat that is our enemy. Either the threat will stop positioning itself as an enemy to us, and we will be able to verify this, or it will evolve into another form or disappear. We are not proponents of violence for the sake of violence,” he added.

He clarified that, just as the fight against ISIS (Daesh) is not classified as a fight against Arabs, the struggle against the PKK/YPG should not be misrepresented as a fight against Kurds.

Emphasizing that PKK is listed as a terror organization by the EU, the US, and many others, Fidan noted that while Washington has placed a bounty on the leaders of the group, they have allowed the leaders to operate through a subsidiary group, which he criticized as a deceptive tactic.

Fidan pointed to France's policy of not wanting to bring ISIS (Daesh) prisoners back to its own territory, while still neglecting to address Türkiye’s security concerns.

"They don't care about threatening our national security, but we are trying to expose this distortion and adopt a more understanding policy,” he said.

Stressing that what has always bothered Türkiye is that those countries raise their own demands but do not take any concrete steps about Ankara’s concerns.

"We don't expect them to take any steps. We will take concrete steps on our concerns ourselves, and we will continue to do so moving forward,” he added.