News / Foreign Policy

Turkey 'shocked' by US stance on 'terrorist' Kurds

Monday, 15 February 2016 9:14 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 15 February 2016 9:48 PM ]

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic

Ankara is “shocked” by the United States stance on Syrian Kurdish troops that have been battling Takfiri terrorists of Daesh.

Last week, US State Department spokesman John Kirby dismissed the idea that Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is a terrorist group, which made the Turkish government summon the US envoy in Ankara.

"To tell you the truth, we are shocked by Kirby's statements putting Turkey and the terrorist organization in the same basket,” Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said at a weekly briefing in the capital on Monday.

Ankara considers the group as an ally of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it has been battling for months, but to the US, PYD is seen as part of the fight against the Daesh terrorists.

Responding to a question regarding the difference between the two states, Kirby said last Monday that "This is not a new concern, as I said, that the Turks have proffered. And we don't, as you know, recognize the PYD as a terrorist organization."

'Self-explanatory’

Turkey, which says it is battling the Takfiris in the region, has used the chance to also attack PKK militants, who have been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region inside the country since the 1980s.

“Turkey has suffered a lot from terrorism. What Turkey has been doing to fight terrorism is self-explanatory,” Bilgic said.

He further reiterated that Ankara’s stance on the Kurdish forces would not change.

“Turkey's policy on PYD, that has links to (PKK fighters in) Qandil mountains, is also obvious. We explained our policy and conveyed our expectations on PYD to the United States at the highest level."

Bilgic made the remarks amid fears of escalation between Turkey and Russia in Syria, which made the US to warn both sides on Monday to “prevent escalation.”

Bilgic, however, said he was “shocked by the statements calling on us to stop shelling.”

“Because Turkey is an ally of the United States but PYD is a terrorist organization. Turkey does not need any permission to fight terrorism. Turkey's fight against terrorism will continue with resolve."

Russian Foreign Ministry expressed “its most serious concern” in a Monday statement about Turkey’s “aggressive actions” in Syria, which includes helping new militants illegally enter the country to join the Takfiri ranks.

Turkey along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the US and some European states have been sponsoring terrorists in Syria since 2011 to oust President Bashar Assad.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir