Russia should reject PKK/PYD: Turkish opposition leader

The leader of Turkey's opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Tuesday urged Russia to keep its distance from the PKK/PYD terrorist group.

Speaking to his party's lawmakers, Devlet Bahçeli said that the Astana, Kazakhstan peace talks presented an important opportunity for providing peace and stability in Syria.

Bahçeli reiterated his party's backing for the Syrian National Dialogue Congress but stressed Turkey's opposition to any involvement of the terrorist PKK/PYD.

Bahçeli said that PKK/PYD attendance at the congress remains uncertain, adding, "Turkey is against it but Russia unfortunately is going along with it."

Bahçeli told how the congress, expected to convene in Russia's coastal city of Sochi, had been postponed until February.

"If the PYD attends the congress in Sochi as either a party or interlocutor, any talk of territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty rights will lose its meaning and content," said Bahçeli.

He added: "The PYD means the PKK, and the PKK means enemy, terrorism, proven traitorousness, and the dishonor which dropped bombs on innocent people."

The PYD and its military wing YPG are Syrian branches of the PKK terrorist network, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years and taken thousands of lives.

-SPIRIT OF SOCHI
Bahçeli highlighted that Turkey is "respectful on the spirit of Sochi and the partner countries of the summit."

"The result that comes from Sochi will not only link to Syria but also Turkey and regional countries," said Bahçeli.

"We especially want Russia to keep its distance from the PYD, and also to be categorically against the PKK."

The presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran met on Nov. 22 in Sochi to discuss progress made in the Astana peace talks and changes in de-escalation zones across Syria.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani agreed to hold a Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi.

However, Erdoğan warned that Turkey cannot share a platform with any terrorist organization which poses a threat to its national security.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating civil war that began in early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the fighting and more than 10 million displaced, according to claims by the UN.