Speaking to journalists in Doha following his visit to Russia, Kuwait and Qatar, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will address recent developments in Syria, particularly Idlib and Afrin, at Syria summit to be held in Sochi on Nov. 22. Erdoğan said that the foreign ministers and chiefs of staff of the three countries will meet one day before the summit for preliminary preparations. He also addressed the U.S. claim that they are not involved in the fight on the ground in Syria.
Highlighting the importance of the issue of the 12 observation posts in the de-escalation zones in Idlib, Erdoğan noted Turkey's flexibility about this area when Russia and Iran have some demands. “But we do not lean towards Iran’s demand on Afrin, as Russia promised us at the G-20 Summit that they will show necessary understanding regarding the withdrawal [from Afrin] due to our discomfort about possible threats and harassments,” he said.
Erdoğan said that Russia, Iran and Turkey have agreed to continue cooperation regarding the Astana and Geneva peace processes. He said Turkey’s stance on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)-affiliated Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorist organization was clear and that it will not make concessions on this. “All three guarrantors will undertake joint work for the Syrian Congress on National Dialogue; it is not possible to make progress by ignoring the opposition groups in Syria,” said the president.
The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
Answering a question whether Turkey was assured that the PYD-YPG terrorists will not be invited to the talks, Erdoğan said his country would never come to the table if terrorist organizations attend the meetings. “This is valid for both Geneva and Astana. Nobody can expect us to come to the table if a terrorist organization will be there. I told President Putin about this issue too.”
Regarding Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump’s agreement on a political solution instead of a “military solution” in Syria, Erdoğan noted that their statement does not reflect what is put into practice. He said that a “political solution” was the correct way but he questioned whether there was no political solution for seven years. “If there was [a political solution], why did they not resort to this and hundreds of thousands of people were killed instead?” he asked.
Criticizing the latest moves by the United States in the Middle East, President Erdoğan said it was known that the U.S. uses terror groups such as the PYD-YPG in its steps against Daesh, and such groups were used in Raqqa and Manbij.
A BBC report titled “Raqqa’s dirty secret” exposed a secret deal with the U.S.-PKK that enabled hundreds of Daesh terrorists to flee Syria’s Raqqa.
“Arabs, the real residents of Manbij, were dismissed from the city. Raqqa was presented to the PKK-YPG,” said Erdoğan. He also stressed that Raqqa should be delivered to its real residents.
Erdoğan also addressed the U.S. claims that they are not involved in the fight on the ground in Syria and that they only provide aerial logistic support. Noting that this claim does not reflect reality, “From the U.S. commandos to various security forces, they are in the region, alongside the YPG. There are also reports that they pay YPG terrorists,” he added.
“All aside, they deployed 3,500 truckloads of armored carriers, weapons, tanks and artilleries through Iraq to Syria. The U.S. has 13 military bases there, including five air bases. Now, they are establishing a new military base in Raqqa. All weapons, ammunition and equipment are being distributed in these areas. That being the case, how convincing is it for the U.S. to say ‘We are not involved in this, we are only watching and monitoring the situation from the air?’ The facts are as clear as daylight. It is clear that the U.S. takes part in the ground planning in the region.”
Regarding the ongoing crisis between Qatar and the Gulf states, Erdoğan said that Turkey supports the Qatari emir’s initiatives for the solution of the Qatar crisis. “Our troops are in Qatar for peace and stability. Efforts for modernizing and expanding the Tariq bin Ziyad military base where our troops are deployed are ongoing. The sanctions imposed on Qatar should be lifted. Nobody would benefit from new crises.”
