Allies need to decide on terror groups says Turkish FM

ANKARA

Turkey's foreign minister has said allied and friendly nations should distinguish terrorist organizations from states in their fight against Daesh in Syria.

The remarks from Mevlut Cavusoglu came during a joint news conference with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in Budapest on Tuesday.

When Cavusoglu was asked why the U.S. did not recognize the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) as a terrorist organization, he said: "The U.S. needs to make a decision: Does it choose us [Turkey] as a partner or terrorist organizations?"

Cavusoglu reiterated that Daesh was a terrorist organization for Turkey, the U.S. and Europe, adding: "Both it [Daesh] and that [PYD] are terrorist organizations. You cannot say one is much better."

The U.S. considers the PKK affiliate, PYD, "a reliable partner" in the fight against Daesh.

Russian airstrikes in Syria

Cavusoglu said thousands of Syrians had fled to Turkey's border due to the Russian airstrikes in Syria.

"If these attacks continue, this figure will pass into the hundreds of thousands, even one million," he added.

"Russia should end these attacks as soon as possible. It [Russia] further deepens the problem in the region," Cavusoglu said.

Russia's air campaign in Syria first began on Sep. 30 last year.

Moscow claims the campaign is aimed primarily at the Daesh militant group but Russia has been accused of sending warplanes to target civilian areas and moderate anti-regime opposition groups.

Syria has remained locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests -- which broke out as part of the ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings -- with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, more than 250,000 people in Syria have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to UN figures.

Turkey currently hosts 2.5 million Syrian refugees.

The Hungarian foreign minister said: "Turkey is taking respected steps in refugee crisis. We are appreciating Turkey's efforts."

Szijjarto added: “Without Turkey's help, this issue cannot be solved because the people fleeing from Syria are first taking shelter in Turkey."

He added that Hungary has supported the agreement between the EU and Turkey.

The EU approved a €3 billion ($3.33 billion) aid package for Turkey to help care for the world’s largest refugee population.

"We are supporting this agreement so these people can return to their home," Szijjarto said.