NATO report sees PYD/YPG as PKK’s Syrian offshoot

By Ismail Cimen

ANKARA

The head of the Turkish delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Wednesday said a report by the alliance sees the PYD/YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist group.

In a statement, Ahmet Berat Conkar said the report -- titled "Instability in the South" -- stated “loud and clear” that the PYD/YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.

“If the report is accepted in its current the NATO PA General Assembly in November 2018, the PYD/YPG will be officially recognized as the PKK’s Syrian offshoot and that [they are] the same terror organizations,” he added.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly took place in the Polish capital Warsaw on May 25-28 in which the report was discussed.

During the meetings, Conkar said, Turkey reiterated that PYD/YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot and this aspect should be included in the report.

Except for one member’s objection, all the NATO PA members supported Turkey on the issue, the statement added.

The PYD and its military wing YPG are Syrian branches of the PKK terrorist network, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.

Since the PKK launched its terror campaign in Turkey in 1984, tens of thousands of people have been killed.

The U.S. and the coalition have largely ignored the links of the PYD/YPG group with the PKK, which the U.S. and the EU also list as a terrorist group.

Turkey has repeatedly objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PKK/PYD as a “reliable ally” in Syria, which has included supplying arms and equipment.