Turkish National Defence Minister Yasar Guler has urged the PKK terrorist organisation and all its branches operating under different names or in different regions to disband and “unconditionally surrender their weapons.”
“It is noteworthy, although late, that the terrorist organisation … has come to understand that terrorism cannot lead to anything, that it has run its course, and that it has no choice but to disband,” Guler said, speaking at a ceremony on Saturday.
"In this context, issues not mentioned in the text, such as a ceasefire, should not be brought up. Such a thing is absolutely out of the question,” he added.
Pointing out that Türkiye’s counterterrorism efforts have been at the top of the country's agenda for many years, Guler stressed that the Turkish Armed Forces continue to fight with “great determination against any threat to the country's unity and integrity, and have successfully carried out the tasks entrusted to it.”
Ankara’s ultimate goal is to end terrorism and eradicate any threats to the country, he said, adding: “There will be no tolerance for the sabotage, abuse, or prolongation of the process, and a cautious and rational approach will be adopted."
In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants, and the elderly.
No retreat on security matters
In a separate statement made on a television programme on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief adviser, Akif Cagatay Kilic, emphasised that Ankara has not “abandoned, taken a step back, or come to a different point regarding our security and the future of Syria.”
Killic assured that Türkiye would closely observe the outcomes of a recent agreement involving the YPG-led SDF, which is the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group, regarding the integration of areas under the terrorist group’s control into a unified Syria.
He added that Ankara will provide all the support it can to ensure that the progress develops positively.
On recent incidents in Syria’s Latakia province between the ousted regime elements and the new government’s forces, Kilic underlined that state authority is beginning to take shape, even though “loss of lives is a tragic situation for all of us.”
“From the perspective of maintaining security and stability and demonstrating that state authority is beginning to take shape, we can say that in a positive sense, a will has been shown to preserve the existence of a unitary structure there and ensure security,” he stressed.
Kilic further asserted that the Daesh terrorist organisation has no future on a global scale. Türkiye firmly rejects its existence and advocates for its complete eradication.
TRT Global - Defence ministry sources say that Türkiye will not tolerate any concessions on Syria’s unity and territorial integrity as Ankara remains resolute in its fight against terrorism.
