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Erdogan to discuss U.S. decision to arm YPG with Trump

Xinhua, May 12, 2017 Adjust font size:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he would discuss the U.S. decision to arm the Kurdish militia People's Protection Units (YPG) with heavy weapons with President Donald Trump in his upcoming visit to Washington.

Speaking at a press conference at Ankara airport before starting trips to China and the United States, Erdogan said terrorist organizations in Syria are only threatening Turkey and its people, not the U.S. or Russia.

He also said the discussion would be more cautious and sensitive, considering that the U.S. is still undergoing a changing phase following elections.

Erdogan reiterated that Turkey does not want to see the U.S. side with the YPG, stressing that "one terror organization cannot be eliminated with another terror organization."

The Turkish government designates U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militants as offshoots of Kurdistan Works' Party, which has been listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the Europe Union since 1990s. Endit