Syria: France looks for allies for YPG/PKK terrorists

By Muhammed Misto and Levent Tok

ANKARA (AA) - Maintaining its military presence in Syria, France has reportedly engaged in efforts to mediate between the YPG/PKK terrorist group and Syrian pro-opposition Kurds.

According to information obtained from the National Council of Syrian Kurds (ENKS), France met representatives of the ENKS early this month, offering to help them reconcile with the YPG/PKK terrorists.

While French authorities suggested the ENKS open offices in the areas in northern Syria occupied by the YPG/PKK, ENKS members ruled that their group could not trust the terror groups after having discussed the proposal last week at a meeting in Qamishli, Syria.

U.S. officials will reportedly hold a meeting soon to discuss the same issue with ENKS officials.

In a bid to become the sole representatives of Syrian Kurds, the YPG/PKK silences opposition to its occupation.

The terror groups previously abducted ENKS members several times, locking the offices of political parties affiliated with the council, or setting them alight.

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 nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot.

- France's military presence in Syria

The French military currently maintains a presence in northern Syria in areas held by the YPG/PKK terrorists at five military bases, the existence of which Paris currently denies.

France, which supports the YPG/PKK terror group under the auspices of an international coalition against the Daesh terror group, has around 200 soldiers in the war-torn country.

French military personnel also train YPG/PKK members in the district of Ayn Issa, located in northern Raqqah.

Despite clearing Daesh from northeast of Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria, the French military is also stationed in the vicinity of the Al-Omar Oilfield along with the U.S.

French construction company Lafarge opened a cement factory in northern Syria in 2010.

It was revealed that since the second year of the Syrian civil war, the company had been bribing the Daesh terrorist organization for 16 months in order to continue its activities.

The U.S.-backed YPG/PKK seized the factory, previously under Daesh control, to use as its base.