'Turkey will never sit at table with terror groups'

By Nilay Kar Onum and Sorwar Alam

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey’s president assured on Monday that Turkey will never sit at a table with terror groups, referring to recent developments in northern Syria.

Speaking at TRT World Forum, which kicked off in Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has "never sat at a table with any terror group" during the government's 17-18-year term, and "will never do so".

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

On Oct. 17, Turkey agreed to pause the operation for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned safe zone.

Erdogan said all actors in the West including the EU countries and NATO stood by terrorists and they altogether lashed out at Turkey during its operation in northern Syria.

"How long has it been you started standing by terrorists?" Erdogan asked, referring to Western countries.