Gen. Buyukanit: "Turkey urges the middle aest to reach sustainable peace and stability"

Addressing opening ceremony of the Strategic Research and Studies Centre's (SAREM) annual meeting titled "Middle East: Its future in uncertainties and security challenges", Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanıt said that some European countries supported the terrorist PKK and this approach didn't comply with fighting terrorism. Buyukanıt added that Turkey has always expressed its decisiveness on the fight against terrorism in every platform. Touching on developments in the Middle East region, he said that Turkey had realized its national independence war in the Middle East region, which is now experiencing rapid and unforeseen changes. Stating that Turkey has cultural, historical and traditional ties between the Middle East, Buyukanit added, "Turkey urges to boost friendly relations with all countries within the region and was affected by problems in that region. So it urges the Middle East to reach sustainable peace, and stability." He also said that certain terms such as the "clash of civilizations, and the Crusades" used by western strategists, should not be used on behalf of lasting regional stability. In his speech, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun stressed that the PKK was in a disintegration process. Speaking about the cross-border operations in northern Iraq, intelligence-sharing with Iran, the PKK and its Iranian branch PJAK, Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug also said that the terrorist PKK lives a big chaos.