Turkey resolves to never allow ‘terror state’ on border

ANKARA

The National Security Council (MGK) meeting in Ankara on July 17 resolved that Turkey would never allow a “terrorist state” to be established on its border.
 
According to a statement issued after the council’s meeting at the presidential complex in the capital, the meeting highlighted that the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) could not be legitimized, even if it had been fighting against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).    
   
Ankara sees the PYD and its armed wing, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), as being organically linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Arms sent by certain allied countries to the PYD have been delivered to the PKK, which vindicates Turkey’s rightful objection to the arming, the statement also said. 

“The fact that arms and ammunition provided to the PYD by some allies are being seized in the hands of the PKK has once again confirmed Turkey’s rightfulness in its warnings and objections to the fact that the two are the same organization, it added.

“Without leaving double standards on terror organizations, regional peace and security are impossible,” the statement read, calling on the international community for a mutual understanding to fight terrorism.

It noted that the country would continue to do whatever is necessary against threats originating from Syria and Iraq.

Referring to the independence referendum backed by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, the statement said the decision would not be in accordance with the law.    
    
It would be a “grave mistake” and “will result in undesired results,” it said, adding that the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq is vital for regional peace and security.

“It has been underlined that the referendum decision taken by the KRG cannot be implemented—de jure and de facto—and that this is a grave mistake and can lead to unwanted consequences,” the statement read.

In March, KRG President Masoud Barzani held a meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in the city of Arbil during which he announced that within a short period of time a referendum would be held to decide the fate of the region.

The MGK also evaluated the failed Cyprus conference, informed the statement, underlining that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will continue to cooperate for the protection of their rights in the eastern Mediterranean, in reference to Greek Cyprus’ unilateral exploration of hydro-carbon reserves and drilling activities.