Erdogan said Washington should choose between Turkey and the Kurds

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erdoganTurkey’s president lashed out at the United States a week after President Barack Obama’s envoy visited a northern Syrian town that is under the control of Syrian Kurdish forces, which Ankara considers terrorists.

In comments published Sunday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Washington should choose between Turkey and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, or PYD, as its partner.

That came after envoy Brett McGurk’s visit to Kobani, where the PYD’s military wing, aided by U.S.-led airstrikes, drove back Islamic State militants a year ago. Turkey considers the PYD a terrorist group because of its affiliation with Turkey’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.

Erdogan said: “How can we trust you? Is it me that is your partner or is it the terrorists in Kobani?”

In Washington, a State Department spokesman reiterated the longstanding U.S. policy that considers the PKK “to be a terrorist organization.”

“We continue to call on the PKK to immediately cease its campaign of violence. A resumed political process offers the best hope for greater civil rights, security, and prosperity for all the citizens of Turkey,” said Noel Clay of the State Department.

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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10 responses to “Erdogan said Washington should choose between Turkey and the Kurds”

  1. Okay, the Kurds it is!

    1. DaveTheRave Avatar
      DaveTheRave

      The blessings of Baz will be showered on both though the PYD will have to fight harder for an invite to tea and biccies in Geneva.

  2. DaveTheRave Avatar
    DaveTheRave

    Don’t worry Tayyip, Merkel still loves ya. Did you know she’s up for a Peace Prize?
    Bazza’s got one too. Hey maybe you… Oh wait… Never mind.

  3. Hind Abyad Avatar
    Hind Abyad

    2015- Seymour Hersh’s News Report Banned in U.S., Is Finally Confirmed in Turkey’
    http://linkis.com/washingtonsblog.com/QM7EV

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      When the Megalomaniacs want to bash at each other, they rarely don the armour themselves.

      1. Hind Abyad Avatar
        Hind Abyad

        It’s becoming tragi-comic.
        ‘Diyarbakir’s soccer team gets yellow card for winning’
        http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/02/turkey-kurdish-problem-spreads-to-soccer.html ..

        And this for you!!
        ‘Erdoğan: Şiir, roman, filmin sigara ve alkol bağımlılığına yol açtığını biliyoruz’
        (Poetry, novels.. we know that the film’s lead to smoking and alcohol dependence.:))

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Ah yes, indeed … I watched too much Gene Autry as a child … 😉

  4. MekensehParty Avatar
    MekensehParty

    Obama said Turkey must choose between Daesh and the US

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Turks never liked being told what to do …. I contemplate the New Muslim ones won’t either. 😉

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