Yıldırım says will not allow PYD’s fait accompli in Syria

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım spoke in a joint press conference following his meeting with Masoud Barzani, the president of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), in his Erbil visit as part of renewing ties with both the Iraqi central and Erbil-centered regional governments.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım arrived in Erbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) late Saturday as part of his two-day official Iraq visit. He was welcomed by Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister of the regional government, upon his arrival at Erbil International Airport.

In the meetings, the two sides discussed the struggle against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorism, sought to improve bilateral relations, which are already very friendly. Binali Yıldırım began his two-day official visit to Iraq on Saturday, which encompasses capital Baghdad and Erbil to end the diplomatic spat between the two countries and establish new ties on the fight against Daesh and PKK terrorism, trade and energy in a cooperative manner.

“Terrorist organizations, not only Daesh but the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) are not just Turkey’s issues, but our common problems with Iraq and Syria. We are carrying out an operation to wipe out Daesh elements from our southern borders. Our mutual goal is to completely eradicate the terrorist organization, which is the plague of all humanity,” Prime Minister Yıldırım said.

‘We cannot allow a fait accompli by PYD’

Yıldırım also stressed Turkey’s fight against the PKK, saying that the terror group’s attacks on Turkey from its base in Iraq are unacceptable and his country will do whatever necessary.

“PKK terrorists cannot be allowed to harbor in Iraqi’s Sinjar region. It is our security issue and common problem with both the regional and central Iraqi governments. Thus, we should act together,” he said.

He also touched upon the PKK-affiliated Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) sinister occupation campaign on Arab populated lands in Syria. In this regard, Yıldırım said that the PYD terrorist organization has uprooted Arabs and peshmerga in northern parts of Syria. However, Turkey cannot let a fait accompli of them who seized those lands.

“No matter how they changed their names, we clearly know them and what they are doing. They are the PKK’s affiliates. They cannot change their essence by renaming. There is no difference between the PKK, PYD or the People’s Protection Units (YPG),” he argued.

Additionally, Yıldırım thanked President Barzani over his support against FETÖ and reiterated Turkey’s aim to rid all its elements.