Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu
On November 12, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu slammed the US “doublefaced policy” towards Turkey saying that the expulsion of two Turkish ministers from the US sanctions list is not enough to buy the “[Turkish] nation’s heart”.
The US removed two Turkish ministers from the sanction list and added three leaders of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to the sanction list, he said adding that thus, “Washington sees no difference between terrorists and Turkish ministers”.
The Interior Minister went further recalling the US support to the “Syrian branch” of the PKK – the People’s Protection Units (YPG). He also said that the US gets 20% of the YPG revenue from the oil fields seized in Syria.
The PKK is recognized terrorist group in multiple states around the world, including Turkey and the US. Ankara considers the YPG, which is a major part of US-backed forces in Syria, as a terrorist group. The US support to the YPG is among the main points of tensions between Ankara and Washington.
