Iran Press/Asia: Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to meet with US National Security Adviser John Bolton and used a prescheduled speech in parliament to tear apart American proposals that a US-backed Kurdish group play a key role in Syria after US troops withdrawal.
Erdogan has criticized John Bolton's recent statement, saying he made a "serious mistake", and that Turkey could never compromise on the issue of the Kurdish YPG militia (People's Defense Units), according to Iran Press.
"Bolton is making a big mistake, his statement is unacceptable. Terrorist organisations do not represent Kurds. Those who spread lies about Turkey killing Kurds in Syria are trying to play on the mood of the world community," Erdogan said Tuesday during his presentation to the parliamentary faction of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara.
He added: "Turkey has nearly completed all preparations to fight remnants of ISIS in Syria in the wake of the planned US pullout and will soon move to 'neutralize' all terror threats."
“We will very soon mobilize to eliminate terrorist organizations in Syria,” he said.
“If there are other terrorists who would attempt to intervene in our intervention then it is our duty to eliminate them as well,” Erdogan added, in a thinly veiled reference to Syrian Kurdish fighters he wants to push from Turkey’s border.
Bolton spent January 7 in Israel discussing the US troop withdrawal, stating that the country's forces would not leave Syria until Turkey agrees not to attack US-allied Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria and until the remaining ISIS terrorists have been defeated.
After weeks of uncertainty and contradicting statements about US President Donald Trump’s plans for US withdrawal from Syria, his national security adviser is pumping the brakes — saying certain “conditions” must be met before the US brings troops home.
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