UPDATE- Turkey warns Assad regime against supporting YPG/PKK

UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES FROM CAVUSOGLU

By Merve Aydogan and Zuhal Demirci

AMMAN/ANKARA (AA) - Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday reasserted Turkey's sensitivity towards Syria's territorial integrity and warned Bashar al-Assad regime against supporting YPG/PKK in Afrin.

Cavusoglu was speaking at a joint news conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in capital Amman.

"Now, 'will the regime enter there? If they do, what for?' that is important. If regime enters to clear out the PKK, YPG then there is no problem. If they are entering [Afrin] to provide protection to the YPG, then no one can stop Turkey or Turkish soldiers. This is not for Afrin only, but also for Manbij and for east of Euphrates too," he added.

His remarks came after Assad regime's state-run news agency SANA reported on Monday that the pro-Assad militia called “Popular Forces” was going to enter Afrin within a few hours.

Cavusoglu once again stressed that Turkey's Operation Olive Branch was launched to "clear out" YPG/PKK terrorists.

The terrorist organization YPG/PKK-Daesh is said to have held talks with the Syrian regime after more than 70 different strategic areas were liberated during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch since its launch on Jan 20.

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 oppression and cruelty of YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists.

Turkish minister further praised the bilateral relations between Turkey and Jordan, and noted the relations in the past year gained momentum especially with the increased visits of the two countries’ officials.

Regarding regional matters, Cavusoglu said there are no differences of opinion among the countries and said: "Jordan's stability and economic growth, Jordan's prosperity is also important for our stability and economic growth."

Following the meeting with his Jordanian counterpart, Cavusoglu was received by Jordanian King Abdullah II.

The importance of "exemplary" joint cooperation displayed by the two countries in the subjects of Jerusalem and other regional matters was underlined during the meeting.