Ankara summons Russian, US envoys

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

Turkey has summoned ambassadors from both Russia and the United States regarding ties with Kurdish forces in Syria, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said, reacting to any probable arms support to groups which have ties with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

“As the ally countries would not excuse arms support to al-Qaeda-affiliated groups, Turkey cannot excuse any armed support to groups linked to the PKK; it certainly cannot allow any tolerance in this matter,” he said during an Istanbul joint press conference with his visiting Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borrisov, on Oct. 14. 

The prime minister said no one could guarantee that the arms sent to the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria would not be taken over by the PKK and used against Turkey.  

Davutoğlu’s reactions came as the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that a U.S. cargo plane had airdropped logistic material to the PYD late Oct. 11 in line with Washington’s plans to reinforce the Syrian Kurds in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria. 

On Oct. 13, Davutoğlu lashed out at both the United States and Russia for supplying weapons and support to the PYD in its bid to fight extremist jihadists. While talking to Ankara newspaper bureau chiefs, Davutoğlu called the United States’ ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, to the Foreign Ministry to convey Ankara’s strong reaction over the airdropping of ammunition.