Turkish HDP Party leader: Turkish government’s position helped in ISIS growth

Moscow, SANA – Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), member of Turkish parliament, said the Party stands firmly against external interference in Syria’s domestic affairs.

In an interview given to SANA correspondent in Moscow, Demirtas criticized the Turkish government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for not having taken enough measures to prevent terrorist organizations’ passage into Syria across the Turkish border.

Was it not for this position by the AKP government, the terrorist organization of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) would not have grown in power in Syria and the region, he added.

Demirtas also said the Turkish government has so far not engaged sincerely in the process to fight terrorism, including against ISIS, stressing that his Party’s criticism will continue in order to come to having these acts of the Turkish government halted.

He applauded the “sacrifices” made by the people of the Syrian Ayn al-Arab city on the northern border with Turkey in the course of their resistance against the attacks of ISIS, which has been for months trying to take over the city.

“We see that this struggle is a great deal of the efforts seeking to preserve Syria’s independence and territorial integrity,” said Demirtas, calling on the international community to support Syria against terrorism.

Demirtas, who is on a visit to Russia upon an invitation by a Russian social organization, met with the Russian President’s Special Representative for Middle East and North Africa Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow, according to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry released earlier today.

The statement said both sides exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East region and Syria in particular in light of the effort to face the terror threat posed by ISIS.

Haifa Said

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