Turkey expresses concern over 'demographic change and terror acts' in northern Syria

ANKARA

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Turkey’s top security board has expressed concern over "demographic changes" in northern Syria to the advantage of Syrian Kurds and "terror acts" committed by jihadists against civilians, while avoiding giving a clear indication of a coming military intervention into its southern neighbor.
 
“The developments taking place in our southern neighbor, Syria, have been assessed in detail and additional measures taken along our border have been reviewed. Concerns over terror acts targeting the civilians in the region as well as attempts for demographic change have been voiced,” read the statement issued by the National Security Council (MGK) late June 29. 

The MGK was convened under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and with the participation of senior government and military officials.
 
The four-hour meeting took place amid growing rumblings from senior government officials that Turkey will not remain silent at the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) alleged removal of Arabs and Turkmens from Tel Abyad and nearby provinces so that more Kurds can be settled.
 
The MGK’s statement also targeted the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) without naming it and highlighted its recent attacks in Kobane, a predominantly Kurdish town in northern Syria.
 
Furthermore, the MGK underlined the insensitivity of the international community in providing assistance to Syrian refugees while reiterating Turkey’s determination in continuing its efforts to heal the wounds of millions of Syrians seeking shelter on its soil.