Turkey is trying to use the Ukraine war as a lever to expand its own war and occupying policies and extort further support from NATO countries. In the attempts by president Erdoğan, to link Turkish approval of Finland and Sweden joining NATO to the lifting the arms embargo and intensifying the persecution of the Kurdish freedom movement, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria sees another “clear example of the racist and chauvinist policies of the AKP government towards the peoples of the region, especially the Kurdish people".

"The Turkish state is committing crimes against humanity"

The Autonomous Administration said in a statement that “the evidence of international legal organizations is the most visible evidence of the crimes that the Turkish state committed in cooperation with Salafist jihadist groups against the peoples of the region. These reach the dimension of war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

"The Turkish state supports terror"

The statement continued: “At the same time, the relationship of the Turkish state to such organizations in the Middle East, in particular to the terrorist organizations Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is also documented. In this way, the Turkish state is trying to develop a new policy based on denial, racism and dictatorship that threatens to plunge the region and the world into a dangerous, long-term crisis.”

“States should be forced to follow the Turkish line”

Regarding Erdoğan's veto threats on Finland's and Sweden's NATO accession, the Autonomous Administration said: "This is another sign that Erdoğan is against the countries that took part in the international coalition, together with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to defeat ISIS and the to fight terror. He is blackmailing NATO into pursuing a policy in line with its interests. On the other hand, the Turkish government is trying to portray the struggle of the people in the region, especially the Kurdish people and the human rights movement, which operates in accordance with international law, as chauvinist and terrorist.”

"Erdoğan's policy strengthens terror and war"

The Autonomous Administration said: “The Turkish government is trying to create an environment in which NATO behaves according to Turkey's interests. Erdoğan's policies will weaken international efforts against global terror and its cell structures and strengthen terrorism. This dictatorial policy will lead to further displacement in the region and plunge the world into even more dangerous wars".

"Fight for peace and stability continues"

Regarding the policy of the Autonomous Administration, the statement said: "The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, together with all peoples living in the region and the international community, continue their efforts to eliminate terrorist groups such as ISIS and thus bring lasting stability and peace in Syria and the Middle East."