Syria envoy: US does not consider YPG as terrorist organisation

The United States special envoy to Syria, Ambassador James Jeffrey said yesterday that the US does not consider Syria’s People’s Protection Units (YPG) as terrorist organisation, unlike the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Jeffrey was responding to a question about the US’ conflicting positions regarding the two groups where it puts a reward for information on PKK leaders while supports YPG at the same time.

“Our position on PKK is clear, but we do not classify YPG as a terror organisation. We never did,” he said, however the ambassador explained that Washington understands “Turkey’s security concerns. We understand the concern over ties between PKK and YPG. That’s why we are acting very, very carefully. We inform Turkey about what we do and why we do it.”

Jeffrey stressed that the United States and Turkey have the same position on finding a political solution in Syria.

“We support the outcome of the Istanbul summit on Syria. Turkey is unhappy with the Iranian presence in Syria and the nature of the Syrian government, so our common points with Turkey are many,” he said.

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