Turkish troops should not be dragged into Middle East quagmire: CHP leader
ANKARA
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Turkish troops should not be left alone in the ongoing Euphrates Shied Operation in Syria, Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said amid an increase in the death toll of Turkish soldiers.“Border security should be secured, there is no doubt in that. However, it is unacceptable to leave Turkish soldiers alone on ground in the battle against ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant],” Kılıçdaroğlu said on his official Twitter account on Dec. 23.
“This is the consequence of failed compromises and wrong foreign policies. Turkish troops should not be dragged into the Middle East’s quagmire,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in reference to the government’s foreign policy in Syria.
“Foreign policy should be national,” he urged.
“I wish our soldiers weren’t being martyred, but Turkey has launched this operation to secure its own future. We have to endure some of these miseries,” Kılıçdaroğlu told state-run Anadolu Agency on Dec. 23
“We hope we will not have more martyrs in forthcoming operations and Turkey will maintain its position in the region as a powerful state,” he added.
Kılıçdaroğlu welcomed the unanimous declaration on Syria signed on Dec. 20 between Turkey, Russia and Iran, and said the CHP has always defended Syria’s territorial integrity. He added that the declaration was in line with his party’s stance on Syria.
“There is progress in Turkey’s foreign policy, especially on Syria, but it was a delayed progress,” he said.
Stating that the declaration underlined a joint struggle against ISIL and al-Nusra, he suggested that a previous consultation between Russia and Turkey in early December on a ceasefire in Aleppo indicated there was a link between Turkey and al-Nusra.
“Previously, Putin has requested Turkey to call al-Nusra to retreat from Aleppo. They are doing these things using Turkey, which means Turkey is supporting al-Nusra. This is the painful truth,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.