Turkish, French foreign ministers talk over phone

By Meltem Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday spoke over the phone with his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian, according to a diplomatic source.

The phone call came after a French presidential statement expressing support for the PYD/YPG/PKK terror groups.

Earlier Friday, Deputy Premier Bekir Bozdag tweeted that the French statement meant “open support for terrorism, terror groups and terrorists; an attempt to legalize terrorist groups; and clear cooperation and solidarity with the terror groups attacking Turkey”.

Bozdag said Turkey remains determined to fight against terrorist groups, adding that those who forge friendship with such groups would end up losing Turkey’s friendship.

In Thursday's statement, the Elysee Palace said during a meeting with a PYD/PKK-led SDF delegation, French President Emmanuel 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 actually are the Syrian branches of the terrorist PKK, recognized by Turkey, France, and the EU as a terrorist group.

Macron also claimed the SDF had “no operational link with this terrorist group” -- meaning the PKK -- adding that "a dialogue could be established between the SDF and Turkey with the assistance of France and the international community".

But the SDF is dominated by PYD/PKK forces, as Ankara has demonstrated.

In its 30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, and Ankara has warned against international actors cooperating with such groups as the PYD/PKK, YPG/PKK, and SDF/PKK, as they are just the PKK under different names.