PKK/PYD's ethnic cleansing in Syria 'unacceptable'

By Enes Kaplan, Aynur Ekiz and Baris Gundogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s National Security Council said late Tuesday that the PKK/PYD terror group’s ethnic cleansing in Syria is “unacceptable”.

The council met under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in capital Ankara.

A written statement was released after the meeting.

"PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist organization’s efforts to carry out a covert ethnic cleansing by changing the demographic structure of Syria is against international law and human rights, and, therefore, it is unacceptable," the statement said.

Turkey will continue to take every necessary measure at the Turkey-Syria border area to ensure its own security, the council said.

The PYD and its military wing YPG are Syrian branches of the PKK terrorist network, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.

While recognizing the PKK as a terrorist group, the U.S. has treated the PKK/PYD/YPG as an ally in its anti-Daesh efforts, despite its PKK ties as documented by Turkey.

Since the PKK launched its terror campaign in Turkey in 1984, tens of thousands of people have been killed.