By Dr. Doğu Perinçek, Chairman of Vatan (Patriotic) Party (Türkiye)
In an interview published in Hürriyet Newspaper, our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan advocates armed cooperation between Türkiye and Syria to eliminate the US-led PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist organizations in northern Syria.
This is a very important task for Türkiye, Syria and the countries of the region. For many years, the Vatan (Patriotic) Party has been working with the countries in the region for military cooperation between Türkiye and Syria against terrorism. Now, the issue has become ripe.
However, in the same statement, our Foreign Minister imposes conditions that make the armed cooperation between Türkiye and Syria against the PKK terrorism difficult. Minister Fidan conditions for this cooperation on the Syrian state’s agreement with its opponents.
The opponents of the Syrian state, that is, of the Bashar al-Assad government, are friends of the PKK. Therefore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is so far out of touch with the reality as to advocate that the Syrian state should, at the same time, come to an agreement with the PKK’s friends and engage in a joint struggle against the PKK.
It is against international law to ask a state recognized by the United Nations to come to an agreement with its opponents and determine its new administration. The Republic of Türkiye cannot interfere in the internal affairs of its neighbors.
Does the Syrian state impose a condition on Türkiye to deal with its opponents? For example, does it impose on Türkiye to ‘Make a deal with the PKK’? It does not. Because it is not common in interstate cooperation to put forward a condition such as an agreement with the armed opposition.
Politically, this condition makes it impossible to cooperate with the countries in the region in the cross-border operation against the PKK. Because the whole world knows that the Syrian government’s opponents are in an obvious cooperation with the PKK.
Mr. Minister correctly points out that the PKK/YPG/PYD is under the control of the United States, but he demands that the Syrian state and government come to an agreement with the US-controlled Syrian opposition. There is a big contradiction here. This contradiction makes the elimination of the PKK from Syrian territory impossible.
The reason why the Government of the Republic of Türkiye has fallen into this mistake is the deadlock called the policy of balance. The policy of balance puts nothing but a dead end in front of us. How will US-backed terrorist organizations be eliminated by pursuing a policy of balance with the US? The public is waiting for an answer to this question from our Foreign Minister and the Government.
In addition to Syria, the cooperation with countries such as Iran, Lebanon and Russia is necessary for the success in the fight against the PKK terrorist organization and other US-controlled terrorist organizations that, though flying banners of Islam, are hostile to Islamic countries.
As our Foreign Minister correctly points out, Israel is threatening Syria. But is it possible to convince the threatened Syrian government to come to an agreement with its opponents? Because those opponents are also in close contact with Israel. Therefore, with this proposal, the Foreign Minister unfortunately falls into Israel’s side.
The fight against terrorism in our region can only be successful with a determined strategy against US imperialism and Israeli Zionism. Policies that wink and extend a hand to the US and Israel are invalid.
Forcing the Syrian state to cooperate with its opponents means forcing the Syrian state to cooperate with the US and Israel. Nothing else.
How then will the struggle against the US and Israeli-led PKK/PYD/YPG and takfirist terrorist organizations take place? How can the US and Israel be convinced of that struggle? Unfortunately, Mr. Foreign Minister provides an environment for the US and Israel’s policies of dividing and confronting the countries in the region.
As Vatan (Patriotic) Party, we are determined. We continue our work with importance and persistence. Türkiye and the Syrian State under the rule of Mr. Bashar al-Assad must engage in a joint armed struggle against the separatist and bigoted terrorist organizations guided by the USA and Israel without putting forward any conditions. As Vatan (Patriotic) Party, we have provided the atmosphere and conditions for this process. Both the Syrian state and Iran and Russia have a positive approach in this regard. Pushing back those friendly hands reaching out to us due to the US-Israeli influence is a mistake with grave historical consequences.
In this respect, we inform both our government and our public opinion and invite them to adopt a decisive and correct strategy for Türkiye’s independence, integrity and freedom from terrorism.