Turkey's goals in Syria, according to Tsavousoglou

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu in an article in the British newspaper The Telegraph analyzes the three main targets of Turkey in Syria, with the foreign press reporting several negative comments about the Turkish operation in Afrin, Turkey.

"First, Turkey is leading the effort to alleviate the humanitarian drama," he said, adding that 5,5 million Syrian refugees, five times the size of Birmingham, are being housed on Turkish soil.

Tsavousoglu also says that Turkey has taken the initiative so that terrorist organizations have no place in Syria. "Turkey uses violence against the PKK, YPJ and ISIS and takes all measures not to harm civilians," he added.

The third goal, writes the Turkish Foreign Minister, is to promote a political solution in Syria.

"From the Astana talks to the Sochi Congress, Turkey is on the side of those who want a political solution in the UN-based talks, based on Syria's territorial integrity and the free will of the Syrian people," he said.

Concluding, Tsavousoglou insists that Operation Olive Branch will continue to "clear the way for peace and clear any threats to Syria's territorial integrity from terrorist entities," calling on the United States and others to stop equipping those entities.

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