TODAY’S MESOP QUOTATION : ERDOGAN ASKED PKK FOR HELP & MURAT KARAYILAN OFFERED COOPERATION

23 Feb 2015 – Syria’s People’s Protection Units (YPG) claimed over the weekend that Turkish officials sought the YPG’s assistance to rescue troops. The YPG is a Kurdish militia group affiliated with the PYD that Turkey considers a terrorist group. PYD is also an affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU.

Murat Karayılan, a senior PKK leader, claimed on Monday that Turkey informed the PYD and YPG about its military operation in advance. Karayılan said there is no military success or victory for Turkey as the operation was done in cooperation with local Kurds. He added that if Turkey wants to develop “diplomatic ties” with Kurds, “this recent help” would be a good start. Karayılan stated that the YPG opened a safe corridor for Turkish tanks going to rescue Turkish troops, while YPG vehicles escorted the tanks. Fighters from the YPG reportedly created a five-kilometer long corridor while Turkish units entered the Rojava Canton of Kobani through the Mürşitpınar border gate on route to the Tomb of Süleyman Şah. http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_questions-persist-over-suleyman-sah-tomb-abandonment-in-syria_373443.html