Turkey
Freaks Out After Russia Insists Kurds Participate in Syrian Talks
In
the fight against Daesh, few forces have been as effective on the
ground as the Kurdish YPG. While Russia has insisted that the group
be part of the Syrian peace talks, Turkey has steadfastly refused,
calling the YPG a "terrorist group."
21
January, 2016
Earlier
this month, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units retook the
Kara-choh oilfield from Daesh, also known as IS/Islamic State.
Located in Syria’s Hasakah province, the field provided Daesh with
vast amounts of crude that was sold on the illegal oil markets.
This
is only one example of the YPG’s success in combatting the
terrorist group across northern Iraq and Syria. The Kurdish fighters
have proven themselves to be one of the most effective ground forces
in Syria.
In
light of this fact, the Russian government has been pushing for the
YPG’s inclusion in Syrian peace talks. But Turkey views the
presence of Kurdish forces along its border as a threat, and has
refused to acknowledge the YPG’s effectiveness.
"Turkey
will be supporting any initiative for a political solution in Syria,
except the only criteria we want is that the moderate opposition
should be represented by their own will and initiative. There should
not be any representation of terrorist groups around the table,"
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during the World Economic
Forum in Davos/
"Some
circles, including Russia, they want to spoil the opposition side,
putting some other elements in the opposition side like the YPG,
which has been collaborating with the regime and attacking the
moderate opposition."
Turkey’s
opposition threatens to delay the UN-hosted peace talks, extending
the violence in Syria. Davutoglu said that he already met with United
Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier to discuss his
concerns.
The
prime minister’s comments follow a familiar pattern of anti-Kurdish
policies implemented by Ankara.
On
Tuesday, reports surfaced that Turkish troops had crossed into Syria.
While ostensibly aimed at liberating the city of Jarabulus from
Daesh, the decision came as the YPG was preparing to launch its own
operation against the city.
Ankara
may be more interested in keeping the YPG from gaining a foothold
near the Turkish border. The government of President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has long warned that a Kurdish advance west of the Euphrates
would result in a military response.
Reports
also indicated that the Turkish military did not engage Daesh, and
that members of the terrorist organization remained unresponsive to
the Turkish presence.
The
Erdogan administration has also launched brutal operations against
Kurdish communities within Turkey. These security raids have left
hundreds dead, including civilians, and resulted in the arrest of a
number of Turkish academics who have vocally opposed the government’s
treatment of Turkish Kurds.
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