Turkish envoy explains Afrin operation on Canadian TV

By Seyit Aydogan

OTTAWA, Canada

Turkey's Ambassador to Ottawa, Selcuk Unal was on a TV program in Canada to talk about his country's ongoing Afrin operation.

Attending Terry Milewski's 'Power and Politics' program at CBC television, envoy Unal said the operation is conducted against "all of the terror groups in the region."

Unal reminded the audience that in the recent months, there have been over 700 separate attacks by PYD/PKK terrorists targeting Turkey's security branches.

"PYD and PKK are the same terrorist organization. PKK is listed as a terrorist group by United States, Canada and NATO countries. This terrorist organization conducts ethnical cleansing of Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish people in the region," Unal said.

He said the real question to be asked is "Why some NATO countries insist on working with PYD/PKK? We have to check the reason why this terror group is equipped with anti-aircraft weapons, where Daesh do not have any planes or helicopters?"

Unal also stressed that the Turkish military gives the "utmost importance" to not harm any civilian during the Operation Olive Branch.

"This is a subject in which we are very sensitive. We are conducting this operation against terrorist groups, not Kurdish people."

Saturday Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.