Turkey warns US defense secretary over PKK/PYD in Syria

First meeting between Turkish minister, US counterpart at NATO summit

By Hasan Esen

BRUSSELS (AA) - Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik discussed the PKK/PYD terror group with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis late Wednesday, a Turkish Defense Ministry official said.

The first meeting between the pair took place at a NATO summit in Brussels, where Isik warned Mattis about U.S. support for the PKK/PYD in northern Syria, the official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

“Anti-terror operations cannot succeed in this way,” Isik said, referring to the fight against Daesh. "A terrorist organization cannot be preferred to another one."

While Turkey considers the PKK/PYD to be a terrorist group affiliated to the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey since 1984, the U.S. sees the PKK/PYD as its ground ally against Daesh in Syria.

Isik also met counterparts from Spain, Italy, the U.K. and France, the official added.

Kaynak:

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