Turkey urges US to keep pledges on PKK/PYD withdrawal

BALIKESİR – Anadolu Agency

Turkey expects outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) elements in northern Syria to withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates, Turkey’s defense minister Fikri Işık said on March 3.        

“We expect the coalition forces, especially the U.S., to keep the promises given to Turkey in this regard,” Işık told journalists, adding that Turkey’s priority is the city of Manbij.        

“This is the commitment of the United States to Turkey. We expect this commitment to be fulfilled as soon as possible,” he added.        

Earlier this week both Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu warned the United States against continuing to work with the PKK/PYD in northern Iraq.