Direct, indirect help to PKK/PYD unacceptable: Turkey

By Sorwar Alam

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s prime minister Wednesday criticized Washington’s decision to arm a Syrian offshoot of the terrorist PKK to fight Daesh in Syria.

“Any initiative to support the PKK directly or indirectly is unacceptable for us,” Binali Yildirim told reporters at Ankara Esenboga International Airport before leaving for an official visit to Britain.

He said Washington is well aware that Ankara is against using the PKK terror group to eradicate Daesh in Syria.

Yildirim said that Turkey cannot imagine the U.S. choosing between a strategic partnership with Turkey and a terrorist organization.

He urged the U.S. to give Ankara’s concerns attention at the highest levels.

“If the decision is negative, the outcome is not [only] up to Turkey but will negatively affect the U.S. too,” he added.

- Turkey urges US to cut terrorist ties

On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that U.S. President Donald Trump had approved the arming of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ahead of an attempt to drive Daesh from Raqqah, the last Syrian city held by the terror group.

The SDF is spearheaded by the PKK/PYD and its armed wing, the PKK/YPG. Turkey views both as the Syrian affiliates of the terrorist PKK, which has fought a 33-year war against Turkey and is also listed as a terror organization by the U.S. and EU.

However, the U.S. has used the PKK/PYD as its ally in Syria in combatting Daesh. Turkey has repeatedly called on the U.S. to end its ties to the PKK/PYD and offered to help take Raqqah.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of some 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children.