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Conflict in Syria

Turkey to take action against Syrian terrorists if national security threatened — Erdogan

He said that Turkey, as a NATO country, will prevent attempts by the PKK and its units to take advantage of the situation

ANKARA, December 13. /TASS/. Turkey will take measures to protect national security if there is a threat from terrorists in Syria as well as from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK, outlawed in Turkey) and its affiliated groups, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"President Erdogan said that for the sake of its own national security, Turkey will take measures against all terrorist organizations, especially the PKK [and affiliated Syrian groups] and IS (the Islamic State, recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia - TASS), operating in Syria and posing a threat to Turkey. He said that Turkey, as a NATO country, will prevent attempts by the PKK and its units to take advantage of the situation in Syria. It will seize every opportunity and will never allow weakness in the fight against IS," the presidential administration said in a statement.

Erdogan said that "Turkey has been in favor of preserving Syria's territorial integrity, unity and structure from the very beginning, and that the international community should cooperate in Syria's revival and reconstruction." He also pointed out that Turkey "will continue its efforts to develop Turkish-US relations in all fields.".

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Syria Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Syrian conflict

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