Syrian groups PYD, YPG offered ‘new chapter’ in Geneva

GENEVA

The Syrian group PYD and its military wing the YPG should join Syrian opposition forces in the fight against terrorism, Syrian Kurdish National Council representatives said in Geneva Wednesday.

Turkey sees the PKK, its Syrian affiliate the PYD and the YPG as terrorist groups. But the U.S. lists only the PKK as a terrorist group.

The Kurdish council’s Abdul-Hakim Bashar told reporters that Syrian Kurds were represented in the Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee.

"We call for PYD to leave the regime forces, and join the opposition forces for fighting against terrorism" Bashar said.

He said a new chapter would be opened when the PYD joins opposition forces.

Fouad Aliko, member of Syrian National Coalition and Kurdish National Council, said the PYD was asked to join opposition forces two months back. "However, they have not responded to our call," Aliko said.

About Turkey's counterterrorism operation in its southeast parts, Aliko said: "This is a domestic issue which does not interest us. We do not meddle in the Kurds living in Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Turkey does not have special intervention in Syrian Kurds."

The third round of talks to resolve the Syria conflict began in Geneva on April 13, but it hit a roadblock when the Syrian opposition decided to unilaterally postpone the peace efforts on Monday due to what it said were deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Syria.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests. Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed, according to UN figures.