ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, claimed US Secretary of State John Kerry has agreed with Ankara’s position that Kurdish forces in Syria cannot be trusted.
Cavusoglu says John Kerry made the statement in a phone call to the Minister yesterday in which Kerry expressed his condolences for the 28 killed in a terrorist attack in Ankara.
"My friend Kerry said the YPG cannot be trusted," Cavusoglu said, speaking to reporters in Tbilisi, Georgia on Friday. “We were glad to hear from John Kerry yesterday that his views on the YPG have partly changed.
Cavusoglu reiterated Turkey’s position that the YPG is a terrorist organization. “Resorting to terrorist groups like the YPG in the fight against Daesh in Syria is above all a sign of weakness," he said, using an alternate name for the Islamic State. "Everyone must stop this mistake. In particular our ally the United States must stop this mistake immediately.”
The State Department confirmed in a brief statement on their website that Kerry spoke with Cavusoglu but did not mention whether or not the YPG was discussed. “Secretary Kerry called Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu today to express his deep condolences for the death of Turkish military personnel and civilians in yesterday’s heinous terrorist attack in downtown Ankara. The Secretary reiterated the steadfast commitment of the United States to our partnership with our NATO Ally Turkey in the shared fight against terrorism. They also discussed the latest developments in Syria, including ongoing efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance and achieve a cessation of hostilities in Syria, and the focus on degrading and destroying ISIL.”
The US’ official stance is that the YPG is an important ally in the war against ISIS. The US has coordinated with the YPG and US special forces are on the ground training Kurdish fighters in the region.
Cavusoglu expressed concern over what he described the US’ contradictory position. "When you look at some statements coming from America, conflicting and confused statements are still coming,” he said.
Neither Kerry or the State Department have responded to Cavusoglu’s claims.
Turkey insists that a YPG member, Salih Nejar, carried out the bombing in Ankara that killed 28 military personnel and civilians on Wednesday. The YPG has denied the accusation.
Cavusoglu says John Kerry made the statement in a phone call to the Minister yesterday in which Kerry expressed his condolences for the 28 killed in a terrorist attack in Ankara.
"My friend Kerry said the YPG cannot be trusted," Cavusoglu said, speaking to reporters in Tbilisi, Georgia on Friday. “We were glad to hear from John Kerry yesterday that his views on the YPG have partly changed.
Cavusoglu reiterated Turkey’s position that the YPG is a terrorist organization. “Resorting to terrorist groups like the YPG in the fight against Daesh in Syria is above all a sign of weakness," he said, using an alternate name for the Islamic State. "Everyone must stop this mistake. In particular our ally the United States must stop this mistake immediately.”
The State Department confirmed in a brief statement on their website that Kerry spoke with Cavusoglu but did not mention whether or not the YPG was discussed. “Secretary Kerry called Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu today to express his deep condolences for the death of Turkish military personnel and civilians in yesterday’s heinous terrorist attack in downtown Ankara. The Secretary reiterated the steadfast commitment of the United States to our partnership with our NATO Ally Turkey in the shared fight against terrorism. They also discussed the latest developments in Syria, including ongoing efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance and achieve a cessation of hostilities in Syria, and the focus on degrading and destroying ISIL.”
The US’ official stance is that the YPG is an important ally in the war against ISIS. The US has coordinated with the YPG and US special forces are on the ground training Kurdish fighters in the region.
Cavusoglu expressed concern over what he described the US’ contradictory position. "When you look at some statements coming from America, conflicting and confused statements are still coming,” he said.
Neither Kerry or the State Department have responded to Cavusoglu’s claims.
Turkey insists that a YPG member, Salih Nejar, carried out the bombing in Ankara that killed 28 military personnel and civilians on Wednesday. The YPG has denied the accusation.
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