Erdogan: No disagreements between Turkey and Russia on Afrin
Turkey and Russia have no disagreements concerning the military operation “Olive Branch” that Turkey is carrying out in the Syrian region of Afrin, as stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a press conference while flying back from a tour of Africa, the TRT Haber TV channel reported.
“We do not have disagreements with Russia concerning Afrin. We will continue to establish observation points in Idlib. Eight such points have already been established. In the future we are planning to hold a trilateral summit (Russia, Turkey, Iran), similar to the summit in Sochi. There we will have the opportunity to evaluate and discuss all issues,” the Turkish President said.
When asked about a dispute with NATO concerning the purchase of S-400 anti-air missile systems from Russia, Erdogan responded that the country is a NATO member. Greece previously bought an S-300 system from Russia, and was not subsequently placed under sanctions. “We will not ask others how to ensure the security of our own country,” the Turkish leader explained.
Erdogan announced the start of operation “Olive Branch” against the Kurdish armed groups in Afrin on January 20. On February 26, Turkey bolstered its military contingent in Afrin with soldiers and special police forces. On March 1, Russia’s Security Council on international security accused the US of supplying the Kurds with weapons and said that the US “effectively provoked Ankara to send troops into Syrian Afrin”.