Turkey presents US with comprehensive report on close-ties between PYD and PKK

As Turkish-U.S. relations go south following a statement from U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby indicating that the U.S. does not recognize the Syrian PKK-affiliated Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed People's Protection Units (YPG) as terrorist organizations, the Foreign Ministry received a 55-page long intelligence report from the security forces outlining comprehensive information on a direct relationship between the PYD terrorist organization and the PKK. According to Sabah newspaper, the report underlined that the PYD was established in 2003 on the demand of the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan and indicates that the PYD had revised its mission and activities in 2007 through cooperation with the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK).

The newly introduced report provided detailed information on the PYD's armed, political and diplomatic activities throughout the Kurdish region in Syria, near Turkey. It has further indicated that the PYD administration had previously been active leaders in the PKK terrorist organization, while providing information on the activities of the YPG. Continuing on with the report, it added that following 2007 the PYD tried to show legitimacy by claiming to be a political party. Underlining that the PYD has organized a diplomatic circle, the report further stated that the PYD aims to establish an autonomous region by taking advantage of the civil war in Syria.

The PYD, which was established on Oct. 17, 2003, has a close affiliation with Syrian intelligence al-Mukhabarat agents while taking the PKK's organization structure in Turkey as a model, the report underlined. In addition, it has been underlined that the PYD's two headquarters are located in Iraq's Duhok and Qandil mountains. According to testimony from the terrorists who had surrendered and were captured, the strong ties between the PYD and the Assad regime were underlined as the regime has allowed the PYD to take control of the entire region bordering Turkey. Another piece of critical information provided in the report was that captured PYD-YPG terrorists, who were caught while crossing the border to Syria, have been identified as PKK staff.