It is our fundamental right based on international law to take measures as
required by our national security against any terrorist threat emanating
from Syria.
We have exerted maximum effort so far to implement the aforementioned
measures jointly with our Allies in particular the US.
We have, in a constructive way and good faith, spared no effort to
establish a safe zone in north of Syria with a view to addressing our
legitimate security concerns and paving the way for the safe and voluntary
return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Syrians to their homes.
We are at a point where the commitments of the US military authorities have
not been fulfilled. During the course of the talks, the US security
bureaucracy has intensified its engagement with the PYD/YPG terrorist
organization which keeps the east of Euphrates under occupation, and acted
in a way which is incompatible with its existing Allied relationship with
Turkey, let alone putting an end to this engagement.
As a responsible member of the international community, Turkey is
determined to fight all kinds of terrorism. We cannot sit idly and watch
the PYD/YPG terrorist organization, which is the soulmate of DEASH and the
mirror-image of crimes against humanity committed against the Syrian people
as well as our country and people, grow stronger and create fait-accomplis
on the Syrian side of our border.
Turkey remains firm to establish the safe zone in order to counter threats
to its existence and to protect its security by clearing the east of
Euphrates from terrorists, as well as to foster peace, security and
stability in Syria. A serious threat against the territorial integrity and
unity of Syria will thus be eliminated and a strong basis will be built to
prevent the resurgence of DEASH or similar entities in the future.
President Erdoğan reiterated all the above to President Trump once again
during their phone conversation on 6 October.