'Turkey will never allow terror corridor on borders'

By Kerem Kocalar

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) - Turkey will never allow the formation of a terror corridor near its southern borders, said Turkey’s justice minister on Saturday, referring to YPG/PKK terrorism in northern Syria.

"Turkey will absolutely never allow a terror corridor along its southern borders. We've made all kinds of preparations with all our facilities and institutions" to prevent that from happening, Abdulhamit Gul said at an election coordination center in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey, bordering Syria.

Turkey could target terrorism in its nest to prevent Turkish soil from being targeted, he added.

"Terrorism will never be able to make Turkey kneel," said Gul.

Turkey has promised a counter-terror operation in Syria, east of the Euphrates, against the YPG/PKK.

In its 30-year terrorist campaign, the PKK -- recognized as a terror group by the U.S., EU, and Turkey -- has taken some 40,000 lives, including women and children. The PKK/YPG is its Syrian branch.

Now that Syrian regions near Turkey are growing more stable following two successful Turkish counter-terrorist operations in Syria since 2016, said Gul, Syrian refugees in Turkey will return to their homeland more quickly.

Turkey hosts some 3.6 million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world.