Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik evaluated statements on the Operation Olive Branch by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs Le Drian

Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik evaluated the statement made by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian regarding Operation Olive Branch: “It is Türkiye's legitimate right to ensure the security of its borders. However, ensuring the security of borders does not mean that you can kill civilians.”

Minister of EU Affairs Ömer Çelik said on his twitter account:

“The French Foreign Minister Le Drian has made the worst possible and most inaccurate statement on Operation Olive Branch. He says: ‘It is Türkiye's legitimate right to ensure the security of its borders. However, ensuring the security of borders does not mean that you can kill civilians’. Le Drian also goes on to say that ‘Türkiye has violated international law.’  Türkiye's fight against terrorism is fully in line with international law. The ones who violate law and commit crimes are the ones who provide arms to PYD/YPG terrorist organisation.

Emphasizing that this was a demonstration of the double standard on terrorism, Minister for EU Affairs says: “Ones who refrain from mentioning our citizens killed by the terrorist organization are now trying to present something non-existent as reality. This is simply overlooking the massacres carried out by the terrorist organisation we are now fighting in Afrin.”

With reference to those who criticised Türkiye but did not criticise countries who armed terrorist organisations, Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik noted: “Everyone should take the care to be aware of where they stand if they oppose Türkiye in its most legitimate fight against terrorism.”                                                               

Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik said: “Türkiye will resolutely continue its fight against all sorts of terrorist organisations. We once again see that the fight against the double standard on terrorism is as important as the fight against terrorist organisations.”

Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik stated: “It would be the best if France, which is a friend and an ally, were to fully support Türkiye's fight against terrorism. This stance would also be most appropriate to take in view of our relationship as allies and with respect to international law.