Speaking at AK Party Parliamentary Group Meeting, President Erdoğan said, "They are asking us, 'When will you end it?' I ask the following to those who ask us when we will finish it: When have you finished your operations in Afghanistan? When have you finished your operations in Iraq? It has been 18 years and you are still there. You yourselves don't have any such issue." 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at AK Party's Parliamentary Group Meeting in the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye. President Erdoğan began his speech by evaluating the latest developments in the defense industry.

Touching upon his recent visit to Vatican City State and Italy, President Erdoğan underlined the importance of his visit to the Vatican in that it has been the first visit from Turkiye to the Vatican since the presidency of Celal Bayar 59 years ago and added that they held a comprehensive and mutually beneficial meeting with Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world.

Noting that they exchanged views on regional and global issues, especially the issue of Al-Quds, President Erdoğan said they saw during the meeting that Francis attaches special importance to close cooperation with Turkiye. The President further stressed that he shared with the Francis his concerns over the rising Islamophobia, cultural racism, and xenophobia in Europe. Drawing attention to the solidarity displayed in the face of the U.S. decision to recognize Al-Quds as Israel's capital, President Erdoğan recalled that the U.S., in a sense, had been rejected as a result of the 128 votes at the UN General Assembly. President Erdoğan added that their visit to the Vatican provided them with an opportunity to once again convey at the highest level Turkiye's sensitivity about the unfounded Armenian allegations.

Reminding that he proceeded from the Vatican to Italy, where he met with President Sergio Mattarella of Italy and received Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, President Erdoğan, with regard to his talks in Italy, said: "During our meetings, we had a chance to evaluate our bilateral relations in a wide range of areas including economy, investments, defense industry and education."

Underlining that the operations in Afrin will be continued determinedly, President Erdoğan said: "It will continue with Idlib. They are asking us, 'When will you end it?' What do you mean by asking that? I ask the following to those who ask us when we will finish it: When have you finished your operations in Afghanistan? When have you finished your operations in Iraq? It has been 18 years and you are still there. You yourselves do not have any such issue. You are not neighbors you do not share borders. What business do you have there? We, on the other hand, share a 911-km-long border. We have come under harassment fire across the border from Syria more than 700 times so far. We have more than 100 martyrs. Does the U.S. hear or see all this? They have told us many things but unfortunately, they have not told the truth. Mr. Obama did not tell the truth, either. In addition, Mr. Trump is on the same path too. They told us the following: 'We will pull out of Manbij. We will not stay in Manbij.' Actually, 90 percent of Manbij is comprised of Arabs. But why are you staying there? Why don't you pull out? Whom have you brought to there? The PKK. You bring and settle them there but still tell us not to come to Manbij. We will come to Manbij to hand it over to its true owners. This is our difference."

President Erdoğan, addressing the U.S., continued: "Don't collaborate with terrorist organizations. If there is anything to be done in this region, then do it with Turkiye, your NATO partner."

Underscoring that the problem is not with the Kurds in the south, but totally with the terrorist organizations, President Erdoğan stated that these terrorist organizations are PYD, YPG, PKK, and DAESH, and continued: "The U.S. says that it has cleared out DAESH. If so, why are you still here? You are sending 5 thousand truckloads of weapons and ammunition. You are sending 2 thousand plane shipments of weapons and ammunition. Where are you sending all this to? What business do these have in Northern Syria? Why are you sending them? Please answer these questions. If you say you are sending them to the fight against DAESH, then do not expect us to believe. We do not buy it. "

There is something very clear, clear about this matter that I have told them here; then you have plans against Turkiye, you have plans against Iran or maybe you have a plan towards Russia. But we are standing on our ground and we will." (ILKHA)