Dilar Baykan
ANKARA: Turkey’s EU affairs minister on Thursday criticized the U.S. and some EU countries for sympathizing with terrorist organizations.
In a Twitter post, Omer Celik said some countries, who ask Turkey’s cooperation against terrorist organizations, support them when Turkey fights against those groups.
“The reactions against Operation Olive Branch show how far the double standards have spread in the fight against terrorism,” Celik added.
On Wednesday, Celik criticized French Foreign Minister Drian’s statement claiming that Turkey had targeted civilians in the operation and “violated international law.”
“Turkey’s fight against terrorism is fully in line with international law. The ones who violate law and commit crimes are the ones who provide arms to the PYD/YPG,” Celik added, referring to the terrorist group that is the primary focus of the operation.
Over the past few years, Turkey’s border provinces of Hatay and Kilis have been subject to over 700 attacks from Afrin.
Since Jan. 21 alone, rocket and mortar attacks launched by the PYD/PKK terrorist group in the Syrian enclave of Afrin have killed seven civilians.
