We fully reject the European Parliament’s (EP) position adopted today (24
October) on the Operation Peace Spring.
We are not actually surprised by this decision taken by those who are
constantly hosting terrorists in their Parliament.
As previously stated on every occasion, our operation is conducted on the
basis of international law, in accordance with our right of self-defense
under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and resolutions of the UN
Security Council on fight against terrorism. The operation has targeted
PYD/YPG, the PKK offshoot in Syria, which is also recognized by the EU and
NATO as terrorist organizations, their shelters, refuges, positions,
weapons, tools and equipment and all necessary measures have been taken in
order to prevent any harm to civilians and damage to civilian
infrastructure.
Furthermore, the legitimacy of this operation has been approved by our
agreements with the USA and Russia.
With the statements we have made repeatedly so far to the international
public and to our foreign official counterparts at the highest level, all
the claims in this EP resolution have been denied and the necessary
information have been provided.
Despite all our statements, the European Parliament has insisted on a
biased position lacking of common sense towards Turkey, by adopting a
decision incompatible with the facts.
Instead of showing solidarity with Turkey who is fighting against
PKK/PYD/YPG and DEASH arising from Syria, and struggling with illegal
migration, the EP has preferred to serve the agenda of a terrorist
organization and to rely on its ungrounded accusations.
This decision does not serve to the efforts aiming to develop relations and
cooperation between the newly elected EP in May and Turkey.
This decision shows that the EP cannot properly follow the important
developments in the regional and global arena, assess the causes and the
consequences of these developments in an objective and holistic way and
that it is unable to develop sound and relevant strategies. We consider the
efforts to link the developments on the Syrian crisis with irrelevant
issues such as the Customs Union and pre-accession funds as a great
mistake.
The EP and the EU, instead of being grateful to Turkey, a candidate country
to the EU and a NATO ally, for this operation which accelerates the
political solution process in Syria, prevents separatism, formation of a
terror zone and the efforts to create a demographic change in the border of
Europe and NATO, protects the unity and territorial integrity of Syria,
prevents further irregular migration and helps Syrians to return to their
country safely and voluntarily, continue to take imprudent conclusions.
As an inseparable part of Europe, Turkey is aware that its security is
directly linked to the security of Europe. This is why, until today, Turkey
has contributed to the security of Europe and has made important sacrifices
to this end. Turkey is determined to pursue this stance. No power and no
resolution can prevent Turkey from taking steps for its national security.