US cannot hide terror groups by changing their names: Deputy PM Bozdağ

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ on Feb. 14 said the United States should know that it “cannot conceal the terrorism” of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) by changing its name.

“The U.S. should give up hindering Turkey [in its efforts against] the PKK/KCK/PYD/YPG terrorist organization. They should know they cannot hide terrorist organizations and terrorists by changing their names or logos. [This] cannot change the truth and cannot deceive anyone,” Bozdağ tweeted.

He also urged the U.S. administration to abide by its promise to Turkey regarding cutting Washington’s support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and to collect back weapons from the terrorists.

Bozdağ also vowed that Turkey would not let “the PKK/KCK/PYD and the YPG to conduct ethnic and ideological cleansing [and] to change the demographic structure of the region.”

“We will not allow the establishment of a terror army and terror state across our border under the disguise of Border Security Forces,” he added, referring to the Pentagon’s plan to form a border force of YPG militants.

“We will ensure the security of our country, our border and the region,” Bozdağ added.

Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 to remove YPG militants from Afrin.