Ankara, 3 March 2023
The US State Department’s ‘‘Country Report on Terrorism 2021’’ intentionally distorts our fight against terrorist organizations which pose a direct threat to our national security.
Türkiye, in accordance with legal norms, and without making any distinction among them, continues its fight against multiple terrorist organizations, namely PKK/PYD/YPG, DHKP-C, FETÖ and DEASH in particular, and actively contributes to international efforts in this field.
The report, which refers to the PKK-affiliated so-called “SDF” as a partner for the USA in the fight against DEASH, reveals that the US authorities could not still come to terms with the fact that fighting a terrorist organization by means of another one is a mistake.
It is also odd that the report includes allegations based on biased media reports which claim that Türkiye’s counter-terrorism operations in Syria and Iraq have caused civilian casualties.
The terrorist nature of FETÖ, the perpetrator of the bloody coup attempt in Türkiye in 2016, has been laid out by verdicts of the Turkish judiciary based on concrete evidence. FETÖ also involves in criminal activities wherever it is present, including the USA. Thus, it is unacceptable to describe our fight against FETÖ members as politically motived. We expect the US authorities to put an end to FETÖ’s presence and its activities in the USA without delay.
The fact that the report includes allegations based on hearsay and biased press news raises questions about its credibility.
We call on the USA to show solidarity with our country in accordance with the spirit of Alliance as well as to take a principled, consistent, determined and effective stance in the fight against terrorism.
Source – Turkish Government