Turkey urges US to keep pledges on PKK/PYD withdrawal

By Zafer Akpinar

BALIKESIR, Turkey

Turkey expects the PKK/PYD elements in northern Syria to withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates, Turkey’s defense minister said Friday.

"We expect the coalition forces, especially the U.S., to keep the promises given to Turkey in this regard," Fikri Isik told journalists, adding that Turkey's priority is the city of Manbij.

"This is the commitment of the United States to Turkey. We expect this commitment to be fulfilled as soon as possible," he said.

This week both Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu have warned the United States against continuing to work with the terrorist PKK/PYD in northern Iraq.

While the Obama administration saw the PYD as a “reliable ally,” Turkey has consistently stressed that it is part and parcel of the terrorist PKK.

The new Trump administration’s policy on the PYD is still emerging.

Since it resumed its armed campaign in July 2015, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 security personnel and civilians, including women and children.

The PKK/PYD has been accused by human rights groups of committing significant human rights violations in northern and northeastern Syria, including "ethnic cleansing" massacres.