Dutch Foreign Minister says there are sufficient signs for Turkey to defend itself

Regarding the “Olive Branch Operation” the Turkish Army is carrying out in Afrin Syria Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra said “There were attacks against Turkey, obviously. There are sufficient signs (excuses) for Turkey to defend itself. YPG is not innocent” Zijlstra answered the questions of the deputies in the Dutch Parliament on the “Operation of the Olive Branch” which was initiated by the Turkish Armed Forces in the Afrin region of Syria.

Zijlstra went on to say, “This is not a Turk-Kurdish conflict. This should not happen in Holland either. Necessary discussions are being held in the government so that the tension in the country does not climb. “

The minister addressed Article 51 of the The United Nations (UN) Charter which regulates the right of self-defense and stated “It is clear there were attacks against Turkey. There are sufficient signs (excuses) for Turkey to defend itself. YPG is not innocent. The Dutch government has never supported the YPG. There are strong links between the YPG and the PKK. The PKK is a terrorist organization both in the Netherlands and in Europe. “