* Photo: Ali Balıkçı – Ankara / AA
Click to read the article in Turkish
İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener spoke at the group meeting of her party today (October 15). Making a soldier salute from the rostrum, Akşener addressed Turkey's "Operation Peace Spring" in her speech.
Akşener reminded President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that the Nation's Alliance supported the operation into northern Syria and told him, "In such a period, stay away from doing politics so that the nation can realize the long-lost spirit of unity."
Other highlights from her speech were as follows:
'Even Trump says 'they are fighting for years'
"Before such operations, states launch a psychological operation, they start with communication and diplomacy. Even your friend Trump says 'Kurds and Turks are fighting for years', you should just think. We cannot get anywhere by saying 'We are telling them constantly, but they don't get it'.
"On the one side, the Presidency's Directorate of Communications has been writing articles for the foreign press and describing the operation as the leadership of the struggle against ISIS; on the other side, Dear Erdoğan has been defining the operation as a struggle against YPG-PYD-PKK. Those waiting for an opportunity have been stomping on this contradiction.
"If our minister of foreign affairs, who is responsible for convincing the world about our rightfulness, shows off by sharing his photograph in uniform, you cannot get your point across.
'There are two options left'
"It is possible to summarize Turkey's Syria policy in one sentence: We are struggling for the territorial integrity of Syria against the state of Syria with the ones who have broken Syria into pieces.
"This sentence is equally as consistent as the Syria policy pursued for 10 years. And we are bearing the consequences all together.
"Sometimes, you just have to choose the second best scenario. Today, there are two options left: We will either get in contact with Assad and normalize Syria or remain a mere spectator to the breakdown of Syria. We will either send Syrian refugees home safe and sound or we will have to look after more and more Syrian refugees with each passing year.
"I am calling on the government: Establishing peace in Syria depends on the choice and decision of Turkey. Make this decision before it is too late.
"Assad's understanding of government might be a major problem, but no scenario is as bloody and as far away from democracy as a devastated Syria. No scenario is as contrary to our national interests as being surrounded by US and Russia bases."
'Is there a plan for a negotiation?'
Indicating that Turkey is now faced with a strategic loneliness in the region, rather than a strategic depth, Akşener said,
"I am asking to Erdoğan: Is there a plan for negotiations with YPG-PYD-PKK in parallel with the Operation Peace Spring conducted by our heroic army? We expect the ruling party to share its attitude towards the issue with our nation in an open and clear manner." (AS/SD)
