Nationalist leader urges military force in Syria

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

‘Turkey should declare that it will react with military force to the founding of an autonomous administration in the north of Syria,’ MHP leader Bahçeli says. AA photo

Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has argued that the capture of the Syrian border town Ras Al-Ayn by the military wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) presents a clear risk of separatism to Turkey and urged the government to declare a military intervention should the PYD rule becomes official.

“I warn the government from here: the PKK declaring autonomy right beside our borders, winning position is a new move against Turkey’s indivisible unity,” Bahçeli said, in a press conference today. PYD is known to be affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Bahçeli proposed that Turkey should avert the PYD’s rule from receiving recognition and react militarily. “Preventing the PKK’s autonomous region in our Syria border from becoming official, stopping its declaration is the most urgent issue ahead of us,” Bahçeli said. “Turkey should declare that it will intervene with military force to the founding of an autonomous administration in the north of Syria,” as he added, “Turkey cannot and should not overlook an illegitimate formation right near its border.”

“Without a doubt, the events taking place in the north of Syria are a great risk for Turkey,” Bahçeli said. “The skeleton of a second autonomous region has been formed after Iraq’s north, its door has been opened. God forbid, but if it goes on like this, Turkey will take the third place,” he added. Bahçeli was remarkably hard on Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu regarding his remarks on Syria. “How will the Foreign Minister, who has said nothing that will concern Turkey could take place in Syria, explain the current situation?” Bahçeli asked. “For how long will someone who lacks foresight, horizon and is so shallow be allowed at the head of Turkish Foreign Affairs?” he continued, while deeming Davutoğlu’s remarks on the issue “obscure.” “Foreign Policy in Turkey has collapsed,” he said.