Davutoğlu responds to Biden on PYD, campaign against academics

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has responded to US Vice President Joe Biden who reportedly told Turkish lawmakers that the Syrian Kurdish group the Democratic Union Party (PYD) is different from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is recognized by both Ankara and Washington as a terrorist group.

Davutoğlu, speaking to a group of journalist en route to Turkey from a visit to Germany late on Friday, said the PYD was a “terrorist organization cooperating with the Syrian regime” and warned that Turkey could launch cross-border attacks on the PYD targets if it deems it poses a threat similar to the threat posed by the PKK.

“The fact that they [the PYD] is fighting against Daesh does not make it legitimate,” Davutoğlu was quoted as saying by private broadcaster CNN Türk on Saturday. He said the YPG, the PYD's armed wing, operates on orders from the PKK headquarters in Iraq's Kandil Mountains.

Davutoğlu's comments came hours before his scheduled meeting with Biden, who is on a visit to Turkey, in İstanbul...
  todayszaman.com - hurriyetdailynews.com
23/1/16
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