(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ANKARA, Aug 22 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday Turkey would never allow the PKK/PYD, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK, to establish a state in northern Syria.
"Calling such an entity a Kurdish state would be an insult to Kurds," Erdogan told a meeting of local officials at the presidential complex in Ankara.
"I believe that my Kurdish brothers will never give an opportunity to such a formation in the north of Syria and south of Turkey," he said.
On the state of emergency, the Turkish leader said it mainly aims at defeating terrorism and maintaining security and stability in the country.
"The most important feature of the state of emergency is to defeat terrorist organizations and bury them," Erdogan said.
He added: "My responsibility as head of state will not be fulfilled until my people from the southeast, east and my whole country achieve peace." The PKK/PYD controls large swathes of northeast Syria along the Turkish border and a pocket of land around Afrin in the west. Turkey is determined not to allow the group to join these areas to gain control of the frontier. (end) rs.mt
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