Erdogan distinguishes Kurds, PKK for US senators

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. lawmakers during an Oval Office meeting Wednesday they have applied a misnomer to the an offshoot of PKK terror group, by calling them Kurds.

“But I assure you the ones that you’re referring to as ‘Kurds' are PYD or YPG. These are terrorist organizations. And they are offshoots of the PKK," said Erdogan.

He said he has Kurds in his population and lawmakers in his own political party who are Kurdish.

Erdogan explained the necessity of a safe zone in its border to protect Turkey from terror groups and for Syrian refugees to return their homeland safely.

He also expressed his frustration that other nations have not done more to support Turkey with refugees.

"When nobody was accepting these refugees, we did,” he added.

Senators Lindsey Graham, Jim Risch, Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst and Rick Scott were present at the meeting.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.