Turkey calls on US to terminate engagement with PYD/YPG

By Zuhal Demirci

ANKARA

Turkey on Saturday called on the U.S. to terminate its engagement with the terrorist group PYD/YPG in Syria.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, who visited Washington on Nov. 1-2., termination of engagement is necessary for both Turkey’s national security and the establishment of sustainable peace and stability in Syria.

The statement came after Onal held talks with the U.S.’s Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood during his visit.

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.

The ministry said in recent days, Turkey has acted in accordance with its rules of engagements to the provocative activities by PYD/YPG on Turkey-Syrian borders. “We have said that we will never tolerate terror activities beyond our borders,” the ministry added.

The statement said that the talks focused on improving relations between the two countries and coordination of regional issues as well as functionalizing existing cooperation mechanism.

During the meetings, Turkey and the U.S. expressed their “satisfaction” over the launching of joint patrols in accordance with Manbij Roadmap previously agreed by the foreign ministers of two countries, the statement added.

The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of northern Syria's Aleppo province.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also called on the U.S. officials to take “concrete steps” against Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO).

The FETO and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the defeated coup, which martyred 251 people and injured nearly 2,200 others in July 2016. Gulen has lived in a self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.