US: No Withdrawal Till Kurds Protected; Turkey: Allegation That We Target Kurds Irrational

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Speaking in Israel one day before his visit to Ankara, US National Security Adviser John Bolton set a 'Syria' condition for Turkey: US will not withdraw from the country without an agreement with Turkey to protect the Kurds.

Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın responded to Bolton:

"It is an irrational allegation that Turkey is targeting the Kurds. The target of Turkey is ISIS and PKK/PYD/YPG* terrorist organizations.

"Claiming that a terrorist organization represents the Kurds is, above all, an insult to our Kurdish brothers and sisters."

Bolton in Turkey on January 7

John Bolton will come to Turkey today (January 7) to discuss the post-withdrawal period of the US troops from Syria. Bolton made the above statement in Jerusalem during his visit to Israel yesterday.

Bolton: I will raise the issue during my visit

Stating that he would raise the issue during his meeting with President and Justice and Development Party Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bolton said,

"We do not think the Turks ought to undertake military action that is not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States.

"It is also very important that we discuss with members of the coalition and other countries that have an interest, like Israel and Turkey, that we expect that those who have fought with us in Syria, particularly the Kurds, will not be put in jeopardy by the withdrawal."

Kalın: Aim of Turkey is to protect Kurds from cruelty

In his response to Bolton, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın stated,

"One aim of Turkey's struggle against the PKK and its extensions in Syria is to protect the Kurds from the cruelty and oppression of this terrorist organization. Turkey will resolutely continue with its efforts to end the war, provide security and put the political transition prıcess into operation in Syria without making any religious, ethnic or sectarian differentiations among its Syrian brothers and sisters." (HK/SD)

* Kurdistan Wokers Party/Democratic Union Party/People's Protection Units