Turkey Has ‘Serious Worries’ on Syria Ceasefire
Turkey Opposed Inclusion of Kurds in Ceasefire
by Jason Ditz, February 26, 2016
As the Syrian ceasefire took effect today, Turkey reiterated its “serious concerns” about the plan, after insisting in the last few days that they believed the ceasefire benefited the Russians, and that they don’t intend to be bound by the ceasefire themselves.
The big objection by Turkey though, as with everything even tangentially related to Syria, is the inclusion fo the Kurdish YPG in the ceasefire, saying that if the US and Russia want to exclude ISIS and al-Qaeda, they must also include the Kurds.
The ceasefire went into effect at midnight Syrian time, and has so far held. Though the ceasefire explicitly excludes both ISIS and the Nusra Front, there have not been reports of any major happenings in their territory since then either, nor has Turkey attacked the Kurds in Syria so far since then.
The YPG, like most of the groups that endorsed the ceasefire, says it reserves the right to respond if attacked. In their case, the most likely row would be with Turkey, as ISIS is not a party to the ceasefire, and is their primary other opponent.
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Published 25 February 2016
Turkey says it will not respect the cease-fire in the case of a threat to its national security, singling out the Kurds as an issue.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that Turkey would not be bound by the Syrian ceasefire plan if its security was threatened, and would take "necessary measures" against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and Islamic State group if needed.
"If Daesh and Al-Nusra are kept outside the ceasefire, then the PYD-YPG must similarly be excluded from the cease-fire for it is a terrorist group just as they are," President Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish officials, using the name Daesh to refer to the Islamic State group. "Ankara is the only place that decides actions regarding Turkey's security."
The PYD, or Democratic Union Party, is the political arm of the YPG.
RELATED: Turkey Blames Syrian Kurds for Deadly Ankara Bombing
The proposed cease-fire in Syria, drafted by Russia and the United States and set to go into effect this week, could be complicated by NATO member Turkey's deep distrust of the Washington-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which has made territorial gains in northern Syria near the Turkish border. Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group and fears it will further inflame unrest among its own Kurdish population.
RELATED: Syria Talks Threatened by Disputes over Who Is a 'Terrorist'
A YPG spokersperson told Reuters on Wednesday it would abide by the plan to halt fighting, but reserved the right to respond if attacked. Turkey has shelled YPG positions in Syria in recent weeks, saying it was retaliating to cross-border fire.
Turkey is not the only party threatening to disregard the latest cease-fire proposal. Russia, Syria and the United States have all announced that they will continue attacks on groups they consider "terrorist."
This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address:
"http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Turkey-Kurds-Should-Be-Excluded-from-Syria-Cease-Fire-20160225-0007.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english
Turkey: Kurds Should Be Excluded from Syria 'Cease-Fire' A YPG fighter walks near a wall, which activists said was put up by Turkish authorities, on the Syria-Turkish border in the western countryside of Ras al-Ain, Syria. | Photo: Reuters Previous Next Published 25 February 2016 0 Comments 161 We Recommend Turkey says it will not respect the cease-fire in the case of a threat to its national security, singling out the Kurds as an issue. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that Turkey would not be bound by the Syrian ceasefire plan if its security was threatened, and would take "necessary measures" against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and Islamic State group if needed. "If Daesh and Al-Nusra are kept outside the ceasefire, then the PYD-YPG must similarly be excluded from the cease-fire for it is a terrorist group just as they are," President Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish officials, using the name Daesh to refer to the Islamic State group. "Ankara is the only place that decides actions regarding Turkey's security." The PYD, or Democratic Union Party, is the political arm of the YPG. RELATED: Turkey Blames Syrian Kurds for Deadly Ankara Bombing The proposed cease-fire in Syria, drafted by Russia and the United States and set to go into effect this week, could be complicated by NATO member Turkey's deep distrust of the Washington-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which has made territorial gains in northern Syria near the Turkish border. Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group and fears it will further inflame unrest among its own Kurdish population. RELATED: Syria Talks Threatened by Disputes over Who Is a 'Terrorist' A YPG spokersperson told Reuters on Wednesday it would abide by the plan to halt fighting, but reserved the right to respond if attacked. Turkey has shelled YPG positions in Syria in recent weeks, saying it was retaliating to cross-border fire. Turkey is not the only party threatening to disregard the latest cease-fire proposal. Russia, Syria and the United States have all announced that they will continue attacks on groups they consider "terrorist." This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Turkey-Kurds-Should-Be-Excluded-from-Syria-Cease-Fire-20160225-0007.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english
Turkey: Kurds Should Be Excluded from Syria 'Cease-Fire' A YPG fighter walks near a wall, which activists said was put up by Turkish authorities, on the Syria-Turkish border in the western countryside of Ras al-Ain, Syria. | Photo: Reuters Previous Next Published 25 February 2016 0 Comments 161 We Recommend Turkey says it will not respect the cease-fire in the case of a threat to its national security, singling out the Kurds as an issue. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that Turkey would not be bound by the Syrian ceasefire plan if its security was threatened, and would take "necessary measures" against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and Islamic State group if needed. "If Daesh and Al-Nusra are kept outside the ceasefire, then the PYD-YPG must similarly be excluded from the cease-fire for it is a terrorist group just as they are," President Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish officials, using the name Daesh to refer to the Islamic State group. "Ankara is the only place that decides actions regarding Turkey's security." The PYD, or Democratic Union Party, is the political arm of the YPG. RELATED: Turkey Blames Syrian Kurds for Deadly Ankara Bombing The proposed cease-fire in Syria, drafted by Russia and the United States and set to go into effect this week, could be complicated by NATO member Turkey's deep distrust of the Washington-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which has made territorial gains in northern Syria near the Turkish border. Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group and fears it will further inflame unrest among its own Kurdish population. RELATED: Syria Talks Threatened by Disputes over Who Is a 'Terrorist' A YPG spokersperson told Reuters on Wednesday it would abide by the plan to halt fighting, but reserved the right to respond if attacked. Turkey has shelled YPG positions in Syria in recent weeks, saying it was retaliating to cross-border fire. Turkey is not the only party threatening to disregard the latest cease-fire proposal. Russia, Syria and the United States have all announced that they will continue attacks on groups they consider "terrorist." This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Turkey-Kurds-Should-Be-Excluded-from-Syria-Cease-Fire-20160225-0007.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english
Turkey: Kurds Should Be Excluded from Syria 'Cease-Fire' A YPG fighter walks near a wall, which activists said was put up by Turkish authorities, on the Syria-Turkish border in the western countryside of Ras al-Ain, Syria. | Photo: Reuters Previous Next Published 25 February 2016 0 Comments 161 We Recommend Turkey says it will not respect the cease-fire in the case of a threat to its national security, singling out the Kurds as an issue. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that Turkey would not be bound by the Syrian ceasefire plan if its security was threatened, and would take "necessary measures" against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and Islamic State group if needed. "If Daesh and Al-Nusra are kept outside the ceasefire, then the PYD-YPG must similarly be excluded from the cease-fire for it is a terrorist group just as they are," President Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish officials, using the name Daesh to refer to the Islamic State group. "Ankara is the only place that decides actions regarding Turkey's security." The PYD, or Democratic Union Party, is the political arm of the YPG. RELATED: Turkey Blames Syrian Kurds for Deadly Ankara Bombing The proposed cease-fire in Syria, drafted by Russia and the United States and set to go into effect this week, could be complicated by NATO member Turkey's deep distrust of the Washington-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which has made territorial gains in northern Syria near the Turkish border. Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group and fears it will further inflame unrest among its own Kurdish population. RELATED: Syria Talks Threatened by Disputes over Who Is a 'Terrorist' A YPG spokersperson told Reuters on Wednesday it would abide by the plan to halt fighting, but reserved the right to respond if attacked. Turkey has shelled YPG positions in Syria in recent weeks, saying it was retaliating to cross-border fire. Turkey is not the only party threatening to disregard the latest cease-fire proposal. Russia, Syria and the United States have all announced that they will continue attacks on groups they consider "terrorist." This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Turkey-Kurds-Should-Be-Excluded-from-Syria-Cease-Fire-20160225-0007.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english
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