Turkey is one of the main actors involved in the multilateral Syrian peace process. While contributing to the efforts of fighting terrorism in the Arab Republic, it also addresses its own security challenges represented by Turkish and Syrian Kurdish organizations, the PKK/KCK and PYD/YPG.
Turkey's National Security Council (NSC) stated that Ankara would not allow a fait accompli in Syria, but intends to uphold its right to self-defence.
In a statement by the NSC published on Tuesday after a meeting of the national military establishment in Ankara, it was reaffirmed that Turkey remains committed to the territorial integrity and political unity of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Nevertheless, it was highlighted that Ankara would continue its efforts to combat terrorist organizations positioned on its borders with Syria and Iraq, which are considered to be the main source of threats to Turkish citizens.
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The terrorist groups mentioned in the statement are predominantly represented by PKK/KCK — PYD/YPG forces, deployed to the east of the Euphrates River. The NSC pledged to proceed with its counter-terrorism operations against these groups in Iraq, underlining that Ankara intends to cooperate with the new Iraqi government.
In regards to the lack of international cooperation in fighting terrorism, the statement said that ‘some countries' had failed to include groups such…
