Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made some interesting comments about his country's intervention in Syria when speaking to journalists accompanying him on his return flight from the G-20 summit about his discussions with US President Obama.
I have translated part of the transcript of this interview concerning Syria below:
Q: Could it be that Turkish soldiers will head directly for Raqqa? Also, it was said that prior to July 15 the Turkish armed forces were reluctant to enter Syria. Were the FETÖ [“Fethullah Gülen Terror Organization”] elements in the armed forces resisting this?
A: It would be more correct to tie this in with regional factors, not least sensitivities involving regional coalition forces. We have experienced certain brutal events. For example, the attack on the henna evening in Gaziantep was an event that lit the fuse.
Q: Will Turkey have a role with regard to Raqqa?
A: This was one of the subjects we discussed with the USA. Clarity over what can be done will emerge from discussions. These things depend on the USA’s stance. However, from now on we must show our presence in the region. If we take a step back, then those very terror organizations like Daesh, like the PKK, like the PYD, like the YPG will set themselves up there. Similar risks apply with reference to Iraq. The PKK is trying to carve out a space for itself there, too.
Q: Has a situation arisen where we have set up a secure zone in Syria with our own resources?
A: (Showing a map of the region) On this chart before you, the places in green are unfortunately in the hands of Daesh, the PYD and the YPG. We have nurtured members of the “Moderate Opposition” under a train-equip program. We sent them across from our own territory to a little further to the west of Jarabulus, setting out with 1000 and later increasing this to 1400. Our howitzers gave them further support. Of course, the coalition forces also gave the necessary support when requested. They for the most part struck from the air. On the ground, our tank guys and also the “moderate opposition” forces as infantry took care of this business. And so Jarabulus was taken very quickly. Daesh started heading south. We actually previously made an offer to Obama concerning Manbij. The point was raised in our negotiations that, “Manbij for sure belongs to the Arabs – the PYD and YPG and so on will not come there.”
Arabs in fact make up 90-95 percent of the people living in Manbij. But, in spite of this, they wanted to move the PYD forces up from there. We, on the other hand, countered them directly with the offer to go the other way and descend from above. They were not won over, saying that it would take two or three months. Now Daesh, having been forced out of Jarabulus, is going to Al-Bab. Deash’s most important center is Raqqa.
Obama particularly wants to do something together about Raqqa. We made it known that there is no trouble at our end. We said, “Let our soldiers come together and talk and let what’s needed be done.” Meanwhile, with advances being made at Al-Rai, once more with the logistic support of our troops, the “moderate opposition” forces have started to move in that direction. There is a bridge over the Euphrates. The bridge was not in our hands, but the strategically placed bridge has also been taken in this process. With the bridge having been taken, the business has become a whole lot easier. It has also become possible to establish relations with the east. Currently, the space between Manbij and above that has been taken under control – not a great deal - is 11 kilometers; then, when you look at what’s between Manbij and Al-Bab, there are about 36 kilometers there. The current status of the region is that it has been adroitly taken under control.
Q: Has there been a change in the USA’s stance towards the PYD?
A: At least there has been no intervention against Turkey. We operated unhindered in Al-Rai as we also did in Jarabulus and continue to do so.
(Noting that some raise the issue that many fronts have been opened in terms of Daesh, the PKK, PYD, YPG and FETÖ) Turkey’s security forces have sufficient strength and determination to intervene as necessary on all of these fronts. Even if there were detentions in the July 15 process, our army has become stronger.
At the very least our soldiers have gained in self-confidence. The Jarabulus operation was the most important expression of our resolve. And our special forces and other military units pulled this off successfully.
http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turk ... kladi.html(Date of article: September 7)
