Last Friday (May 30), Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazlum Abdi said in an interview that he would be open to meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
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| SDF open to meeting with Erdoğan amidst rumors of a meeting with senior Turkish officials The news follows reporting from Al-Monitor last week indicating that plans were in the works for a meeting between Abdi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan or Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın. Ankara classifies the Kurdish-led SDF as a terrorist organization due to the group’s affiliation with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) through its main branch, the People’s Defense Units (YPG). Despite years of hostilities, a temporary truce between Turkish forces and the SDF has been in place since December. |
The news follows reporting from Al-Monitor last week indicating that plans were in the works for a meeting between Abdi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan or Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın.
Ankara classifies the Kurdish-led SDF as a terrorist organization due to the group’s affiliation with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) through its main branch, the People’s Defense Units (YPG). Despite years of hostilities, a temporary truce between Turkish forces and the SDF has been in place since December.
In May, the PKK announced its dissolution and the end of its armed struggle against the Turkish state following a historic call in late February by the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan.
According to Al-Monitor’s report, the potential meeting between Abdi and senior Turkish officials would take place in Damascus.
Tom Barrack, the new US Ambassador to Turkey and leader of the US Special Envoy for Syria, has encouraged talks between Turkey and Abdi and announced that the US would continue supporting the SDF in its fight against ISIS.
The rumored meeting between Abdi and Turkish officials has been denied by Turkey.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
