The vacuum that emerges after the expected withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria should not give room to terrorists, Turkey's defense minister said on Friday.
Speaking at a session on Daesh at the Munich Security Conference alongside his U.S., German, French and British counterparts, Hulusi Akar reiterated that despite using different labels, the terrorist PKK, PYD, and YPG are in fact the same group.
“Clearing the YPG terror organization from Syria is of utmost importance for the security of our borders and people,” Akar said.
Turkey has promised a cross-border operation in Syria against the YPG/PYD, east of the Euphrates River, following on two similar counter-terrorist operations since 2016.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- recognized as a terror group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The PYD/YPG is the group's Syrian branch.
Akar added: “The vacuum that will emerge after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria should not provide a safe haven for terrorists.”
Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, claiming that American forces had defeated Daesh there.
On the idea of a safe zone to be set up east of the Euphrates, Akar said that only Turkish forces should be present in any such zone.
''[Establishing] a safe zone is not only important for Turkey but also for ensuring Syrian refugees forced to leave their homes can return to their homeland safely,” he added.
Akar also reiterated that the terrorist PYD/YPG does not represent ethnic Kurds.
“The Kurds are our friends. Our only target [during anti-terror operations] is terrorists,” he said. “Some describe the PKK as Kurds. This is quite mistaken.”
Asked later by Turkish reporters if the U.S. is determined to withdraw its troops from Syria, he said: “They are working on it. We're following the issue and continuing our contacts.”
“We're expressing our concerns and demands again and again. We're very clear while doing so."
He added: "Not only our U.S. allies but others also see our remarks as logical, valid, and suitable for the region and the general situation.”
