| Nr.10 |
10 februari 2016 14:17 |
"We do not recognize the [Democratic Union Party] PYD as a terrorist organization. We recognize Turks do," US State Department spokesman John Kirby told a daily press briefing this week. The remarks are expected to come as a surprise to Ankara, who asked Washington to choose sides: either Turkey or the PYD.
The PYD is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). US officials say its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), is the most effective partner on the ground in the fight against ISIL in northern Syria. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the European Union.
Kirby said Turkey's concerns over the Syrian Kurdish militants are not new and that both allies continue to hold consultations on the matter. The public split between Washington and Ankara on the status of the PYD was so serious that Kirby went to great lengths to reiterate that Turkey and the US are good friends.
BRON
9 feb 2016 Turkije / Erdogan zet druk op de VS om de Syrische Koerden te kunnen aanpakken.
De VS meldt aan Ankara / Erdogan dat het de Syrische Koerden niet als terroristen beschouwt.
Ankara roept de VS ambassadeur op het matje.
Erdogan is een onberekenbare factor. |
