Turkey slams France over supporting PYD/YPG terrorists

By Sorwar Alam

ANKARA

France’s support for the terrorist groups PYD/YPG constitutes clear cooperation and solidarity with terror groups working to harm Turkey, Ankara said Friday in the wake of France’s president meeting with a terrorist PYD/PKK-led SDF delegation.

A French presidential statement on supporting the PYD/YPG/YPJ terrorist groups actually means “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,” Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesperson Bekir Bozdag said on his official Twitter account.

He stated Turkey is determined to fight terrorist groups, adding that those who forge friendship with such groups will lose Turkey’s friendship.

A Thursday statement from the Elysee Palace said that during a meeting with a PYD/PKK-led SDF delegation, 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 that 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.