Erdoğan: Turkey Won't Accept Iraq-Style Kurdish Rule In Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has ruled out any possibility of accepting an autonomous Kurdish government in northern Syria similar to the one in northern Iraq, saying a government like this would cause major problems in the future.

In his remarks to reporters on his way back to Turkey after an African tour, Erdoğan criticized the United States' policy on Syria, which doesn't involve toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“[The US] doesn't want to make moves that target the [Syrian] regime. It says [toppling the government] is not among its targets. If it doesn't take place, there won't be any solution. What would happen? The same thing that happened in Iraq will happen. We don't want a new Iraq. What is this? Northern Iraq… [We don't want] a northern Syria to appear! It is not possible for us to accept this,” Erdoğan said.

“I know the burden on Turkey is heavy. We have to keep our stance [firm] on this issue. Otherwise, after a northern Iraq, there would be a northern Syria. These formations will cause big problems in the future,” he concluded.

Erdoğan also pointed to the three Kurdish autonomous administrations formed by Syrian Kurds in January 2014, and once more scolded the US for only placing importance on Kobani.

“There is also this perspective -- Afrin, Kobani, Qamisli -- this arrangement in this strip is also meaningful. Because we are telling them: Why don't you turn toward Aleppo? They don't pay any attention to Aleppo,” Erdoğan complained.

The president reported that he had asked US President Barack Obama why Kobani is so strategic for Washington, and he replied that if the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) take the town, it would say it defeated collation powers.

“There is no settled public there; 200,000 people crossed into our side [Turkey]. There are fighters. We told [the US], ‘Don't drop these bombs, you are making a mistake.' Unfortunately, despite this conversation, they dropped whatever was necessary, and half of [the weapons] were seized by Daesh [another name used to refer ISIL]. So who feeds Daesh?” Erdoğan asked.

He stressed that the weapons dropped by the US-led coalition and seized by ISIL are heavy artillery, and that the weapons may create problems in the future.

“Aleppo is of major importance to us. The [Syrian] regime bombs Aleppo. There are 1.2 million people there. There is history, culture and civilization in that city. It is a really big destruction. I hope the Americans revise their opinions and find the right strategy,” Erdoğan added.

In his remarks, Erdoğan also ruled out any change on Turkey's Syria policy. “Our policy toward Syria is obvious. We never think to make changes on it. Our target is the [Syrian] regime. [The situation] doesn't work with the Assad regime. Syrian opposition forces have also stated this many times. I said this to Biden and to Obama. Three things needs to take place: one, a no-fly zone; two, a security zone; and three, training and equipping [opposition forces],” Erdoğan added.

The anti-ISIL US-led coalition hopes to use Turkey's İncirlik Air Base for operations against ISIL militants -- however, Turkey wants a comprehensive strategy before it will give stronger support to the campaign. Turkey and the US have agreed to train and equip moderate Syrian forces on Turkish soil, but disagreements on other issues remain. Turkey's calls for a no-fly-zone and security zone in northern Syria and the toppling of Assad's regime have received the cold shoulder from the US, which currently has no appetite for a war against Assad, saying a no-fly zone against Syria's air force is a no-go.

Erdoğan: Who will rebuild Kobani?

Erdoğan has slammed the US-led coalition for destroying Kobani via bombardments targeting ISIL attacks in and around the city, asking “Who will rebuild it now?”

“Who will rebuild the places that you have bombed? No one is considering what will happen in the future. Will 200,000 refugees return, or if they do where will they live?” said Erdoğan.

In the meantime, when asked if the US is satisfied with Turkey in terms of cooperating against ISIL with regards to Kobani, US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Turkey has made significant contributions in the fight against the terrorist group.

“We have been very closely engaged with Turkey, as you know. I don't have the number of trips that General Allen and Ambassador McGurk have taken there and the number of times they've engaged with our Turkish partners. They have contributed in every line of effort, so we certainly feel good about our ongoing cooperation, which is not just about one area but is about this entire effort to defeat ISIL,” Psaki said in a daily press briefing on Monday.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)