Turkiye’s International Minister Hakan Fidan has denied a declare by incoming United States President Donald Trump that the toppling of Syrian chief Bashar al-Assad was an “unfriendly takeover” by Turkiye.
In remarks apparently praising Ankara, Trump informed a information convention earlier this week that Turkiye was “very sensible” and had carried out “an unfriendly takeover with out numerous lives being misplaced” in Syria.
In an interview with Al Jazeera broadcast on Wednesday, the Turkish overseas minister stated it will be “a grave mistake” to explain the present occasions in Syria as a takeover by Turkiye.
“For Syrian individuals, it’s not a takeover. I believe if there’s any takeover, it’s the need of the Syrian individuals which is taking up now,” Fidan stated.
The overseas minister additionally stated the “last item” that Turkiye needs is to be seen because the regional energy that has remaining management of Syria, pointing to a tradition of domination that had introduced break to the area.
“Nicely, I believe that will be the very last thing that we need to see as a result of we’re drawing large classes from what’s been occurring in our area, as a result of the domination tradition itself has destroyed our area,” Fidan stated. “Not Turkish domination, not Iranian domination, not Arab domination, however cooperation ought to be important,” he stated.
“Our solidarity with Syrian individuals shouldn’t be characterised or outlined at this time as if … we are literally ruling Syria. I believe that will be unsuitable,” he added.
Requested about US media reporting on issues that the Turkish army could also be ready to launch a significant army offensive in Syria to crush Kurdish forces which can be hostile to Turkiye, the overseas minister pointed to the YPG (Individuals’s Safety Items) as an “important risk” to his nation.
The Kurdistan Staff’ Occasion (PKK) armed group is listed as a “terrorist organisation” by Turkiye and the West, and Fidan described the YPG because the PKK’s “extension” in Syria.
The YPG has sustained its management over territory in Syria by presenting itself as serving to the West within the battle towards ISIL (ISIS), the overseas minister stated. “I believe this can be a misrepresentation of their true id. They’re there as a terrorist organisation,” Fidan stated.
“Sadly, our Western buddies … flip a blind eye to this proven fact that the YPG is an extension of the PKK,” he stated, including that Ankara has been calling on Washington to stop its army help for the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG is the principle preventing element.
Fidan additionally stated that Syria’s new authorities should deal with the problem of Kurdish forces in its territory, which might avert the necessity for Ankara to take motion.
“There’s a new administration in Damascus now. I believe that is primarily their concern now. So, I believe if they’ll, in the event that they handle this difficulty correctly, so there can be no cause for us to intervene,” he stated.
Native witnesses have informed the French information company AFP that there was a rise within the variety of troopers patrolling on the Turkish aspect of the border, however uncommon army exercise has not been evident.
Fidan additionally stated that Turkiye recognised the brand new administration in Syria as a “authentic accomplice” for Ankara, which is why the Turkish embassy in Damascus had reopened and the ambassador has been instructed to speak with native and central authorities officers.
Officers from the United Nations, European Union, and different international locations have additionally made contact with the brand new administration, Fidan famous, including that the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group – whose chief is Ahmed al-Sharaa, additionally known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, is the de facto chief in Syria – ought to be delisted as a ‘terrorism’ organisation.
“I believe it’s time for the worldwide group, ranging from UN, you already know, to take away their title from the terrorism record,” Fidan stated of HTS, which is the principle element of the coalition at present governing Syria.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged over the weekend that Washington is in touch with HTS, and discussions with the group had been within the broad context of the way forward for Syria.
The US State Division positioned HTS on its record of “overseas terrorist organisations” in Could 2018 resulting from its affiliation with the al-Nusra Entrance, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
Since 2016, HTS’s al-Sharaa has moved to distance the organisation from al-Qaeda and has been positioning himself and HTS as credible caretakers of Syria in a post-Assad interval.
