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 instructed a information convention earlier this week that Turkiye was “very sensible” and had carried out “an unfriendly takeover with out a variety of lives being misplaced” in Syria.
In an interview with Al Jazeera broadcast on Wednesday, the Turkish foreign minister stated it could be “a grave mistake” to explain the present occasions in Syria as a takeover by Turkiye.
“For Syrian folks, it isn’t a takeover. I believe if there’s any takeover, it’s the desire of the Syrian folks 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 ultimate management of Syria, pointing to a tradition of domination that had introduced smash to the area.
“Effectively, I believe that may be the very last thing that we wish 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 must be important,” he stated.
“Our solidarity with Syrian folks shouldn’t be characterised or outlined as we speak as if … we are literally ruling Syria. I believe that may be improper,” he added.
Requested about US media reporting on issues that the Turkish navy could also be ready to launch a serious navy offensive in Syria to crush Kurdish forces which might be hostile to Turkiye, the overseas minister pointed to the YPG (People’s Protection Units) as an “important menace” to his nation.
The Kurdistan Employees’ Celebration (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 struggle towards ISIL (ISIS), the overseas minister stated. “I believe this can be a misrepresentation of their true identification. They’re there as a terrorist organisation,” Fidan stated.
“Sadly, our Western associates … flip a blind eye to this indisputable fact that the YPG is an extension of the PKK,” he stated, including that Ankara has been calling on Washington to stop its navy help for the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG is the primary combating part.
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’re going to, in the event that they handle this challenge correctly, so there can be no purpose for us to intervene,” he stated.
Native witnesses have instructed the French information company AFP that there was a rise within the variety of troopers patrolling on the Turkish facet of the border, however uncommon navy exercise has not been evident.
Fidan additionally stated that Turkiye recognised the brand new administration in Syria as a “respectable 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 nations 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 – must be delisted as a ‘terrorism’ organisation.
“I believe it’s time for the worldwide neighborhood, ranging from UN, you understand, to take away their title from the terrorism record,” Fidan stated of HTS, which is the primary part of the coalition presently governing Syria.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged over the weekend that Washington is in touch with HTS, and discussions with the group have 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 May 2018 as a result of 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.
