TÜRKİYE ORTA ASYA HABER KKUORDİNATÖRÜ

IFJ-INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALIST Retrieved by NSD/FARA Registry on 10/11/2019 11:53:27 STATEMENTS BY US OFFICIALS AND INSTITUTIONS ON THE FACT THAT THE YPG IS THE PKK April 28, 2016 US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, speaking at the US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on "Counter-ISIS Operations and Middle East Strategy": In response to a question from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) regarding the connection between the PYD/YPG and the PKK: Senator Graham: "...reports indicate that the PYD/YPG is affiliated with the PKK, or at least has significant ties. Is that true?" Secretary Carter: "Yes..." July 21, 2017 US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Commander General Raymond Thomas, speaking at the Aspen Institute: "I think the most discussed and misunderstood thing is the evolution of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, our counterpart in Syria. Interestingly, they took that name because I had direct contact with them at one point, and I was in the official relationship with these guys. They used to call themselves the YPG, but the Turks used to say they put them on par with the PKK. The PKK has a terrorist-enemy mentality—well, how do you do that? An ally. So we literally told them, 'You have to rebrand yourself,' meaning, what do you want to call yourself besides the YPG? And with about a day's notice, they declared themselves the Syrian Democratic Forces. I thought it was a mind game. 'Put democracy aside.'" February 13, 2018 Director of National Intelligence Daniel R. Coats, US Intelligence Community Worldwide Threat Assessment In his statement on the matter: "The Kurdish People's Protection Unit—the Syrian militia of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)—will likely seek some form of autonomy but will face resistance from Russia, Iran, and Türkiye." This material is distributed by Capitol Counsel LLC on behalf of the Republic of Turkey. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. Retrieved October 11, 2019, 11:53:27 AM by the NSD/FARA Registry Retrieved October 11, 2019, 11:53:27 AM by the NSD/FARA Registry March 23, 2018 Congressional Research Service report titled "Turkey: Background and US Relations in Brief" "Turkish officials claim their military operations in Syria are primarily self-defense, given the links between the Syrian Kurdish YPG (People's Protection Units) and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party, designated a terrorist organization by the US)." January 2 2019 Statement by Senator Lindsey Graham on Syria "There are millions of Kurds living in Türkiye who are vibrant members of Turkish society, contributing to their economy, culture, and democracy. However, a presence among the Syrian Kurds has long been a legitimate national security threat to Turkey. Türkiye's concerns about YPG elements must be genuinely addressed to ensure that Turkey's borders are secure and protected from all threats. Any final decision on Syria must address Türkiye's national security interests and concerns." September 25, 2019 Syria Working Group Final Report "Major Kurdish Groups: PKK: KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY • Founded in 1978. The United States designated the PKK as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in October 1997. It confirmed this designation after a review in March 2019. PYD: DEMOCRATIC UNION PARTY • The Syrian branch of the PKK, founded in 2003. YPG: PEOPLE'S PROTECTION UNITS • Emerged in 2012 as the military arm of the PYD. The United States began cooperating with the YPG in late 2014. SDF: SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES • Established in 2015 as the United States' local partner in the fight to defeat ISIS. The SDF's leadership largely comes from the YPG, but it is also supported by Kurds, Arabs, and a multi-ethnic force composed of other ethnic groups." Primary command and control is provided by the Kurdish component. Bvis materials are distributed by Capitol Counsel LLC on behalf of the Republic of Turkey. Additional information is available from the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Retrieved by the NSD/FARA Registry on 10/11/2019 11:53:2.