Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday cautiously welcomed an announcement that the terrorist PKK/YPG’s self-proclaimed autonomous administration and its affiliated military and civilian structures had been dissolved, saying Türkiye would closely examine whether the declaration is being implemented on the ground.
“Our job is to act professionally and verify its implications on the ground. If it is as stated, then of course this is a welcome development,” Fidan told reporters during a visit to the eastern province of Elazığ on Wednesday.
He said such a move would complement Türkiye’s objectives in Syria and could help strengthen ties between the country’s Kurdish and Arab communities while contributing to an environment in which all Syrians can look to the future with greater confidence.
Fidan stressed that Ankara supports protecting the identity of Syria’s Kurdish population while rejecting any steps that could undermine the country’s national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity.
“We underline the importance of preserving Kurdish identity and avoiding any denial of that identity, while at the same time ensuring that Syria’s national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity are not compromised,” he said, adding that Türkiye wants to see those principles reflected in practice.
