PYD/YPG terrorist group to declare a federal region in northern Syria, spokesman says


The PYD/YPG terrorist group controlling areas of northern Syria are expected to declare a federal system on Wednesday, a spokesman from the group said, taking matters into their own hands after being excluded so far from political talks to resolve the Syrian war.

The step will combine three Kurdish-led autonomous areas of northern Syrian into a federal system.

The announcement would mean "widening the framework of self-administration which the Kurds and others have formed," said Idris Nassan, an official in the foreign affairs directorate of Kobani, one of three autonomous areas set up by the groups two years ago.

He told Reuters the areas would be named the Federation of northern Syria.

The PYD has been left out of peace talks underway in Geneva, in line with the pressure by Turkey, for being the PKK terrorist group's affiliate in Syria.

Syria's regime in Damascus on Saturday ruled out the idea of a federal model for the country. Damascus ally Russia has said federalism could be a possible model for Syria.

Turkey has repeatedly voiced its concern over the PYD's affiliation with the PKK terrorist group and the sharing of logistical information and weaponry between them. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has repeatedly said that Turkey has no problem with the Kurds in Syria but the PYD will not be considered a legitimate party or representative of the Syrian Kurds due to its relations with the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist group by the EU and the U.S.

While Ankara asserts that the PYD is affiliated with the PKK, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and NATO, Washington does not share Ankara's concern.

The U.S. also provided arms to the PYD in October, which drew heavy criticism from Ankara. The U.S. air force dropped 50 tons of arms and ammunition to the PYD in the northern Syrian province of al-Hasakah. The 112 pallets reportedly contained ammunition for M-16s and AK-47s.

Defending the PYD because it fights Daesh on the ground in Syria, Washington continues to read from a different page to Ankara concerning the PYD. Even though the U.S. says the PYD is the only effective force fighting Daesh on the ground, Ankara reiterates that there cannot be any distinction of good or bad terrorist organizations.