Strasbourg, France. Cypriot member of the European Parliament Loucas Fourlas on Tuesday accused the Turkish government of partaking in a “purge” of Kurds and Christians in Syria during a plenary session.
Accusations raised in European Parliament
Fourlas said “a purge is taking place in the region with Damascus and Ankara as the protagonists” and added that Turkey bears “a heavy responsibility.” He urged those who believe Turkey can be a reliable strategic partner for Europe to “listen carefully.”
He warned that if the European Union and Turkey strengthen their ties, “we will put a snake in our house and it will eat us.”
Call for protection of minorities
Fourlas said the European Union must demand “real protection for national and religious minorities,” adding: “Our silence today will be complicity tomorrow.”
He described “women, children, families” living under “the terror of violence again, without electricity, without water.”
References to Kurds and Christian communities
Fourlas said Kurds in the region “stood on the frontline against Isis,” fought jihadists, and “protected not only their land, but international security, too.”
He said Syria’s Christian communities are “threatened with extinction today,” and added: “The forces which fought Isis cannot be abandoned by us today.”
Developments in northeastern Syria and Turkish response
The comments followed Syrian government forces making sweeping advances in recent weeks into territories in the country’s northeast previously held by a Kurdish-led militia, reaching the city of Qamishli, immediately south of the Turkish border, last week.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey has “shown an exceptionally high level of sensitivity regarding Kurds in Syria” during an appearance on CNN Turk, and said his government has advocated for Kurdish rights in dialogue with the Syrian government.
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