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Turkey uncomfortable with inconsistency of U.S. on Syrian border force

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has complained about inconsistent statements from the United States about the creation of a border security force in northern Syria, saying Washington has to eliminate the confusion and stand by Turkey.

Anadolu Agency & AP TÜRKIYE
Published January 18,2018
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The prime minister on Thursday said the U.S. should end confusion over Syria's future and change its policy in Syria to mend relations with Turkey.

"The practices of our NATO ally U.S. in Syria are unfortunately wrong and against the spirit of alliance. The U.S. should end confusion over the region's future, and change its attitude towards peace and restoring relations with Turkey," Binali Yıldırım said during his speech at a provincial security directorate meeting in the capital.

The premier's remarks come after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington owed Turkey an explanation over "inaccurate" reports that it was creating a border force in cooperation with SDF/PKK terrorists in northern Syria.

"That entire situation has been misportrayed, misdescribed, some people misspoke. We are not creating a border security force at all," Tillerson told reporters on his way back from giving a speech at Stanford University in California.

"The U.S. must eliminate the confusion and change its stance in favor of peace and improving relations with Turkey," the premier said.

The U.S.-led international coalition against Daesh said on Sunday that it would establish a 30,000-strong new border security force with the SDF/PKK -- a group largely controlled and manned by the PYD/PKK terrorist organization.

Turkey has reacted angrily to reports of a PKK/PYD-led border force in Syria, calling it an "army of terror" and vowing to crush it.

Yıldırım went on to say that Turkey's stance was clear. "We will never allow the establishment of a terrorist army along the southern borders [of Turkey]," he reiterated, adding Turkey would take all measures to protect its borders, and citizens within the framework of international law.