The Turkish envoy to Bangladesh, His Excellency Devrim Ozturk's
interview comes at a crucial time as the Turkish military forces launch
decisive military operations against Kurdish fighters in northeast
Syria. Following a wide range of players holding geopolitical interests
in Syria , the latest Turkish military operations is likely to shape ,
even redefine forthcoming geopolitical calculations in the Middle East.
Even though, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reported to have
said the primary aim of the military operations was to eliminate a
'terror corridor' but the Western powers, namely France, Germany and
Britain have jointly condemned the Turkish actions. His Excellency
Devrim Ozturk shares his detailed and incisive explanation behind the
recent Turkish military actions in Syria with The Daily Observer's
Assistant Editor Shahriar Feroze...
His Excellency Devrim Öztürk, Turkish ambassador to BD
Daily Observer: Can you give us a background on Turkey's fight against terrorist organizations beyond its southern borders?
Turkish envoy: Turkey is currently fighting a number of terrorist organizations that present risk and threat to our national security. Our resolve to fight against these terrorist organizations is firm. It is with this understanding that we have given our full support to all international efforts to this end since day one.
We have a proven record of accomplishment in contributing to counter-terrorism efforts in Syria. We are a committed member of the Global Coalition against DEASH. We have neutralized more than 4.000 DEASH terrorists on our own. However, the threat of terrorism originating from Syria and targeting our borders is not limited to DEASH.
During the last two years, especially from the east of River Euphrates, we have been exposed to more than hundred cases of attacks or hostile acts by PYD/YPG, the Syrian offshoot of PKK which is designated as a terrorist organization by the EU and NATO. PYD/YPG has perpetrated terrorist attacks also within Syria and against Syrians. Northwest Syria is a particular case in point. More than 200 cases of attacks and killing or wounding of scores of civilians took place. PYD/YPG-affiliated elements assumed responsibility in these cases without hesitation.
Turkey has already conducted two major counter-terrorism operations, "Euphrates Shield" in 2017 and "Olive Branch" in 2018, in northwest Syria, and cleared an area over 4.000 km2 from DEASH and PYD/YPG terror, allowing more than 360.000 Syrians to return to their homes in this area. The threat of terrorism originating from Syria and targeting our borders has not yet ended. Through tunnels dug by PYD/YPG along the bordering areas in this region, explosives and ammunition have been smuggled to Turkey to be handed over to the PKK terrorist organization.
So far, more than 220 PYD/YPG attacks have been recorded according to PYD/YPG-affiliated open sources. There is credible evidence that DEASH terrorists detained by PYD/YPG were released in exchange of infiltrating into Turkey or northwest Syria in order to conduct terrorist acts. There has been growing evidence about PYD/YPG's human rights violations such as recruiting child soldiers, intimidating dissidents, demographic engineering and forced conscription in areas under its control. Local population's grievances against PYD/YPG's tyrannical rule has been on constant rise.
DO: Why did Turkey decide to carry out the "Operation Peace Spring"? What does Turkey expect to accomplish?
Turkish envoy: The objective of this operation will be to ensure our border security, neutralize terrorists in the region and thus, save Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of these terrorists. The operation will be carried out on the basis of the international law, in accordance with our right to self-defence as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions 1373(2001), 1624(2005), 2170(2014) and 2178(2014), 2249(2015) and 2254(2015) and in full respect of Syria's territorial integrity and unity.
As was the case with Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch, only terrorist elements and their hideouts, shelters, emplacements, weapons, vehicles and equipment will be targeted during the planning and execution phases of the operation. Bases and observation posts in the operation area belonging to our Allies are not targets. Channels of military deconfliction will remain open and functional.
We intend to continue the operation until all terrorists have been wiped out of the region, our border security has been ensured, and local Syrians have been liberated from the tyranny of PYD/YPG as well as the DEASH threat.
The operation also aims to support the international efforts to facilitate safe and voluntary returns of displaced Syrians to their homes of origin or other places of their choice in Syria. A safe zone free from terror will encourage about two million Syrians, including more than 300 thousand Syrian Kurds taking refuge in Turkey, to voluntarily return to their homes. In fact, Turkey has best practices in terms of liberating areas from terrorism and facilitating safe and voluntary returns of Syrians. In northwest Syria, more than 360 thousand Syrians returned from Turkey to their homes in areas cleared of terrorists by Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch.
DO: How is Turkey planning to deal with the consequences of this military operation?
Turkish envoy: Turkey has no plans whatsoever to modify the demographic structure in the operation area. To the contrary, this counter-terror operation is intended also to facilitate the returns of Syrians, including Kurds, Arabs and Christians, who had been displaced due to acts of PYD/YPG amounting to crimes against humanity, including ethnic cleansing. Turkey's counter-terrorism efforts in Syria will also contribute to the territorial integrity and unity of Syria by disrupting separatist agendas.
As the only country engaging in chest-to-chest combat against DEASH in Syria, the future of detained DEASH terrorists is of paramount importance for Turkey. The only sustainable solution is repatriation of all foreign terrorist fighters by their countries of origin. The issue of foreign terrorist fighters can be effectively dealt with only by collective action by the international community.
DO: What were the diplomatic efforts of Turkey towards the international community on the verge and beginning of the operation?
Turkish envoy: The US and other allies who have a military presence in the region were informed of the operation in a timely manner. We took immediate steps to inform the international community on the background, legal basis and goals of this operation. President Erdogan had already informed President Trump about our intention and also called President Putin before the start of the operation. The UN Secretary General, the President of the UN Security Council and the Secretary General of NATO were notified of the start of this operation in writing. We invited ambassadors representing permanent members of the UN Security Council as well as regional countries to the Ministry.
We delivered a verbal note to the Syrian Consulate General in ?stanbul. We made clear that this was limited to a counter-terrorism operation. We reiterated our commitment to Syria's territorial integrity and unity. Our vision is recognized and supported by the Syrian National Coalition and the Syrian Interim Government, as the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people, along with the tribal representatives, Kurdish and Christian leaders across the region.
