Turkey rejects EU parliament’s attitude over Syria op

By Ahmet Furkan Mercan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Thursday rejected European Parliament's attitude over the country’s anti-terror operation in northern Syria.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “We are not surprised on the decision of those who host terrorists in their parliament constantly.”

The ministry's statement came after the European Parliament strongly condemned Turkey's Operation Peace Spring in northeastern Syria and urged Ankara to withdraw all of its forces from the country.

The European Parliament claimed that the operation was "a violation of international law, undermining the stability and security of the region as a whole."

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate PKK terrorists and its Syrian offshoot YPG from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

The statement reiterated that the anti-terror operation is in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter on the right to self-defense and UN Security Council resolutions on the fight against terrorism.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.