US policy on Syria is full of contradiction, Erdoğan says

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday that the US policy on Syria and Iraq shows inconsistencies.

“We witness indications of inconsistency and polycephaly of the United States policies regarding our region," Erdoğan said during his speech at the opening of the parliament's new legislative year.

He said a part of the U.S. administration insisted on supporting PKK/PYD-YPG terrorist groups, while another part tried to carry out a policy close to Turkey's view.

Ankara repeatedly called on the Obama administration to give up supporting the PYD-YPG terrorist organization in Syria.

The PYD-YPG is a Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terror group that has been engaging in decade-long terrorist activities in southeastern Turkey, killing around 40,000 people.

Though the PKK is listed as a terror group in the EU and U.S., the Pentagon continues supporting its Syrian affiliates.

President Erdoğan said the Syria issue was “vital for us" and Turkey's position on the issue was clear from the beginning of the almost six-year-long civil war in the country.

He said that Turkey assumed the humanitarian duty for Syrian civilians and determined to continue it.

Europe failed to do its humanitarian duty

Erdoğan said Europe failed to do this duty of humanity.

“Europe disregards its own value that the block defended so far," he added.

While speaking on Turkey's military -backed Free Syrian Army's (FSA) operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria, Erdoğan said Ankara was working for the establishment of a safe zone for millions of displaced Syrians.

Turkey is the largest host of Syrian refugees, as the country has spent more than $12 billion for feeding nearly 3 million Syrians.

Erdoğan said the Turkey-backed operation, which aimed to liberate a 5,000-square-kilometer area in northern Syria, would solve the terrorism and refugee crisis in the region.

The terror corridor in northern Syria along Turkey's border and the terror attacks by Daesh and the PKK forced Turkey to launch the counter terror operation.

“The Euphrates Shield shows that terrorist organizations in the region can be eliminated by the fighters from the countrymen.

He said that Turkey would do everything for the safety and peace of its citizens.

Turkey's operations both in the southeastern part of the country and in northern Syria were supported by the locals, Erdoğan said adding that the people in the area can live their normal life in the region as they are free from terror treats.