'Turkey has no any problem with any Kurd, but with terror groups'

ANKARA-Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has strongly condemned all initiatives trying to portray Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield as a movement against the Kurds in Syria and as an attempt to block achievements of Kurds in the region.

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara on Wednesday, Ibrahim Kalin underlined that Turkey had no any problem with Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Iraq or Syria or with any Kurd in any part of the world.

“We strongly condemn such initiatives that portray this [Operation Euphrates Shield] as a movement against the Kurds in Syria [and] as an operation to block Kurds’ achievements,” he said.

He said Turkey’s problems were with terrorist organizations such as the PKK/PYD.

The spokesman reiterated that Turkey considered the PYD as the Syrian offshoot of the terrorist PKK organization.

“Agreement with the PYD is out of question,” he said.

While Turkey considers the PYD to be the Syrian offshoot of the terrorist PKK organization, the U.S. sees the group as its ally in the fight against Daesh.

Operation Euphrates Shield, which was launched last week, is aimed at improving security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the terror threat along Turkey’s border through Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery and jets.

Photo:  Ahmet İzgi (AA)