Turkey's opposition MP slams French support for PYD/PKK

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - A senior lawmaker of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Friday strongly criticized French support for the PYD/PKK terror group.

Speaking to journalists at the parliament in capital Ankara, CHP parliamentary Deputy Group Chairman Engin Altay said: "France! Know your place! You can do nothing in Syria."

Altay said France would win nothing by backing terror groups against Turkey.

"This puts France into trouble in the international arena," he added.

"We call on France to review its decision."

Following French President Emanuel Macron’s Thursday meeting at the Elysee Palace with a PYD/PKK-led SDF delegation, the French presidency said in a statement that Macron hopes "a dialogue can be established between the SDF and Turkey with help from France and the international community," an offer that was immediately denounced by Ankara.

The French leader claimed the SDF had “no operational link with this terrorist group” -- meaning the PKK -- but the SDF is dominated by PYD/PKK forces, as Ankara has demonstrated.

The statement also said Macron recalled “France’s commitment against the PKK and its commitment to the security of Turkey”.

However, as Turkey has documented, the PYD/PKK and SDF are actually the Syrian branches of the terrorist PKK, recognized by Turkey, France, and the EU as a terrorist group.