'Turkey will never sit at table with terror groups'

ISTANBUL

Turkey’s president assured on Monday that Turkey will never sit at a table with terror groups, referring to recent developments in northern Syria.

Speaking at TRT World Forum in Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has "never sat at a table with the terror groups" during the government's 17-year term, and "will never do so.”

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

On Oct. 17, Turkey agreed to pause the operation east of the Euphrates River for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned safe zone.

Erdogan said all actors in the West, including the EU countries and NATO, stood by terrorists against Turkey during its operation in northern Syria.

"How long has it been you started standing by terrorists?" Erdogan asked, addressing western countries.

Erdogan criticized those who withdrew from the TRT World Forum to protest Turkey's operation in northern Syria, accusing them of supporting terror organizations.

Turkey has no eye on the soil of any country, and on the independence and benefits of any community, Erdogan said, adding that Turkey only defends "rights and future of our siblings, whom we see as indivisible part of us."

On his upcoming visit to Russia on Tuesday, Erdogan said, “We will discuss this [northern Syria] process and will hopefully take steps that need to be taken accordingly.”

The Turkish president also called for the reorganization of global foundations, saying, “Let us restructure the locomotives of the global system, especially the United Nations.”

Erdogan concluded his remarks saying that Turkey wishes those who oppose its proofs, concerns, wishes, and offers, would not listen to authors of pro-terror groups, but listen to Turkey to learn the truth about its anti-terror push.