Turkish NGO extends support to operation in Afrin

By Yusuf Ozcan

PARIS (AA) - The Paris branch of Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) on Sunday extended support to Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in northern Syria.

The UETD Paris Youth Branch organized a conference titled "Pacta Sunt Servanda during Youth and Al-Aqsa" and read out a supportive statement on Afrin operation written by UETD headquarters ahead of the event on Sunday.

The UETD statement asserted that the Operation Olive Branch in northern Syria aims to establish peace, tranquility and security.

It added that the latest operation would eliminate a "terrorist corridor" on Turkey’s southern border and "ultimately put an end to the pressure of the terrorist organizations in the region and restore peace."

The operation also aimed to protect NATO's southern border and target only the terrorist organizations in the region, the statement said.

The organization rejected baseless rumors that civilians were being targeted.

"On the contrary, it is seen that terrorists like PYD in Afrin use civilians by force as human shields."

It said the operation by the Turkish Armed Forces "has been carried out transparently with the necessary information given to its allies and neighboring countries since the beginning."

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to rid Afrin, northwestern Syria of PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.