Speaking at the Bursa Provincial Congress of AK Party's Women Branch, President Erdogan said: "PKK, PYD, YPG were all supported and some of them were positioned in Afrin. From where? From the south of the 2, 000 square km-wide area. We followed these, we waited, we endured and one night, we hit them all of a sudden. However, we have a lot of work and things to do. [?] Some accuse us of a so-called "genocide" but in fact, it is the Turkish nation that was subjected to the biggest genocide of the last century. The number of civilian casualties during our retreat from the Balkans exceeds 2 million and an approximate number of people were lost in the Caucasus," and added: "The number of people we lost due to the massacres which resulted in the much disputed Armenian relocation is many times higher than the numbers considered as 'genocide'. As we are a nation which trusts in Allah and buries its sorrow in its heart, as we do not make propaganda concerning this issue, we are left astonished in the face of the opposite claims."

[?]

President Erdogan indicated that necessary steps were taken last night with the air operation which was followed by a still on-going ground operation. Drawing attention to the fact that the population of Afrin consists of 55% Arabs, 35% subsequently positioned Kurds and 6-7% Turkmens, President Erdogan made the following remarks: "Now, the main objective is to hand Afrin over to its true owners. What is our goal? Do we have 3.5 million Syrian refugees living on our lands? Yes, we do. Our target is to repatriate these Syrian brothers and sisters as soon as possible. There are current steps taken in this direction. We do and will take all the necessary steps against the separatist terror organization with determination. It is not possible to compromise this. We will eliminate all elements of PKK, PYD and YPG from our country. Those who want to advance from Syria will pay a heavy price for it. Rest assured, they will have no courage left to stand before us after these operations. You must know this, you cannot cope with the Turkey and Turkish nation by solely ranting, raving and saying 'We have the US behind us, they send us weapons.'"

Underscoring that nobody abandoned their ambitions over Turkey, President Erdogan indicated that attacks targeting the territorial and national integrity go on incessantly. Drawing attention to the fact that it became impossible to disregard the outcry resonating throughout the region, President Erdogan made the following remarks: "A cheap and nasty newspaper gave an impertinent headline today in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). I invite my brothers and sisters in TRNC to adopt a particular attitude there. It is argued that the Turkish army engaged in a new invasion after Cyprus. What kind of impertinence is this? My brothers and sisters in TRNC should adopt a particular stance and give the necessary response to this in TRNC. Even if we look back on the last 25 years, we come face to face with the massacres taking place in Bosnia, Iraq, Palestine and now Syria. We do not know where and what kind of sorrows and oppression await us in the future. Therefore, we do not have the luxury to isolate ourselves from and remain outside the incidents taking place in our region."

Underlining that those who ask "What is Turkey doing here?" are oblivious to the reality of this country and nation, President Erdogan said: "Turkey has to be present there. Turkey has to nip the snake in the bud for the sake of national survival, Mr. Kemal. We shall be present everywhere deemed essential for us and for our brothers and sisters pinning their hope upon us."

[?]

President Erdogan emphasized that we will continue to prevail in this region for thousands of years to come and touched upon the important steps taken concerning the issue of Al-Quds within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation under Turkey's term presidency. Recalling that only eight countries sided with the US, President Erdogan said: "Thankfully, 128 countries came together. We will not stop here, we will continue to make efforts because Al-Quds is the first kiblah of Muslims. Christians also have temples there." Indicating that Turkey's stance aroused interest not only in the Islamic world but also in the Christian world, President Erdogan explained that he personally contacted the Pope and they shall visit the Vatican city to pursue a second round of communication. Recalling that the Pope had previously paid a visit to Turkey, President Erdogan stated that he will be making a return visit.

[?]

[09] Yildirim: "Turkey's Operation Olive Branch 'aims to bring 10,000 km2 of Afrin under control"

The note, titled "What Turkey aims to do with Afrin operation," was posted on the office's official Twitter account on Jan. 21. It cited the following reasons for the operation:

* To ensure the Turkey-supported Free Syrian Army (FSA) takes control of a 10,000-square kilometer area.

* Following on from the Euphrates Shield Operation and the operation in Idlib, to completely prevent the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from reaching the Eastern Mediterranean.

* To eliminate the possibility of losing Turkey's geographical contact with the Arab world.

* To ensure the security of our borders with Syria.

* To prevent the infiltration of the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the PKK into Turkey through the Amanos Mountains.

* To prevent a terrorist organization from opening to the Mediterranean and to the world from here

* To ensure the security and continuation of the Euphrates Shield Operation area.

* To take control of the Tel Rifaat region and ensure the return of civilians to their homelands.

* To counter U.S. support for a terrorist organization.

The office also added three articles stating "Why Afrin is important to Turkey," cited as follows:

* Afrin is critical in maintaining the security of Turkey's border provinces and ensuring the security of the Euphrates Shield Operation area.

* The presence of terrorist organizations in Afrin means that the whole of the southern Turkish province of Kilis and most of the Hatay province are within range of terrorist organizations.

* Turkey sees the merging of the Kobane area with Afrin as the most important pillar of the "Kurdish corridor" project.

[10] Turkey to brief NATO Deputy Secretary General about cross border Afrin operation

Ankara will brief the NATO official about the ongoing incursions, as part of the diplomatic briefings given to partners and international bodies, a Foreign Ministry official told Hurriyet Daily News.

Gottemoeller will hold meetings with Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz, and other high level officials. Gottemoeller will also visit the NATO Center of Excellence for Defense against Terrorism, and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Ataturk Mausoleum. In Istanbul, she is scheduled to visit the 3rd Army Corps and Multinational Joint Warfare Centre Command and deliver a speech at the National Defense University.

Her visit comes after Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sent a letter last week to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Stoltenberg informed Erdogan about the measures taken after an incident at NATO's Joint Warfare Centre in Norway in November. The Secretary General once more apologized for the scandal, diplomatic sources told Hurriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity.

Turkey had withdrawn 40 troops from the NATO military drill in Norway after a scandalous incident in which the country's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were targetted.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry is keeping Ambassadors from several countries in the region informed about the operation, according to a Turkish diplomatic source.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also spoke on the phone with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Jan. 21, to inform him about Turkey's military engagements in Syria's Afrin.

The Ambassadors of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were also invited to the Ministry for a briefing on Jan. 21, along with the EU Ambassador to Ankara.

[11] Turkish Foreign Ministry: "Anyone who opposes Turkey's Afrin op will be siding with terrorists"

Cavusoglu noted that the operation will take precautions to ensure no civilian or innocent person would be harmed.

Earlier in the day, Cavusoglu held a phone conversation with French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian regarding Turkey's Operation Olive Branch. In addition,

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (22.01.18 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/afrin-operation-not-to-influence-sochi-meeting-turkish-fm-126035) reports that Turkey's military operation on the Kurdish militia group the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria's Afrin province will not affect the Syrian conference in Sochi scheduled for later this month, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a televised interview on Jan. 20.

[12] Turkey's opposition parties lend support to Afrin operation

"We are totally confident about our brave army and give full support to the operation. What we care about is the security of our borders. No countries would want a terrorist organization on their border," CHP leader Kilicdaroglu told Hurriyet on Jan. 20.

He also said it was important that Turkey used the Syrian air space as a result of diplomatic efforts.

CHP Vice Chairman and spokesman Bulent Tezcan similarly voiced the party's support for the operation on Jan. 21 during a press conference organized at the party headquarters in Ankara.

"Our glorious army has initiated an important operation. Our support is full. We stand behind this operation as the nation and will continue to do so," Tezcan said.

"The most important thing to keep in mind at the end of this process is that Syria should have territorial integrity. A strategic political solution on Syria should be focused on. We should stand behind the sovereignty of Syria and territorial integrity," he added.

"It is our biggest wish that the Olive Branch Operation, which was launched by our glorious army, achieves its target in the shortest time possible and our soldiers come back home without harm," Tezcan had written in an earlier message posted on Twitter on Jan. 21.

The MHP has also voiced support for the Afrin operation. "There is no other way to clear our borders from terror," MHP leader Bahceli told reporters on Jan. 21 at a news conference in Ankara's Kizilcahamam district, describing the operation as a "national cause."

"The operational partner of the United States should be rooted out. The PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party], the PYD [Kurdish Democratic Union Party], and the YPG, which are disguised as the Syrian Democratic Forces should be cleared from our borders," Bahceli said.

IYI Party leader Meral Aksener also voiced support for the operation. "Our full prayers are with our glorious army and heroic soldiers in the Afrin operation. May God ensure that this operation is completed without any loss of lives and may our soldiers be full of power and strength. May God protect them," Aksener tweeted late on Jan. 20.

However, Serpil Kemalbay, the co-chair of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), slammed the operation, describing it as the "start of an invasion" of Afrin.

Kemalbay also called on the public to "show their democratic reactions" against the operation during a press conference at the party headquarters in Ankara on Jan. 20.

In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted the HDP for "calling people to the streets."

"Just as we are rooting those in the mountains out of their caves, we will not let you take to the streets," Erdogan said in a speech in the western province of Bursa on Jan. 21.

"They are holding a congress in [the southeastern province of] Diyarbakir. But they have not found anybody to join them," he added.

"You are being followed. Wherever you take to the streets, our security forces will be at your throat. You can't do whatever you want. With a local and national approach we are conducting an operation against all those who are attacking our country's borders, but you will hit us from within? Is that so? Just as we rooted out those in the mountains from their caves; we will never leave these streets to your own discretion," Erdogan said.

Meanwhile, the country's leading business association, the Turkish Business and Industry Association (TUSIAD), also voiced full support for the military operation.

"Our hearts are with the Turkish Armed Forces in our rightful fight against terror elements," association head Erol Bilecik said in a written statement on Jan. 21.

[13] Azerbaijan backs Turkey's operation in Syria's Afrin

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Hikmet Hajiyev said Azerbaijan condemned all kinds of terrorism and voiced support for international efforts to counter them.

"The operation aims to secure Turkey's border, remove the terror threat and protect the civilians in the region," Hajiyev said.

The fight against terrorism was needed to attain international and regional peace, he added.

"Turkey has faced terror attacks many times and a lot of lives were lost during these attacks. Azerbaijan understands Turkey's concerns?," Hajiyev said.

Turkey on Saturday launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh elements from Afrin.

According to Turkish General Staff, the operation was aimed at establishing security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as eliminating PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terror groups, and protecting the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation was being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council's decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect to Syria's territorial integrity, it added.

The military also said only terrorist targets were being destroyed and "utmost importance" was being given to not harm any civilian.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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