US rejects YPG/PKK-controlled elections in northeastern Syria, citing unfair conditions
People in Jarabulus, Azaz, Afrin, Bab and Tal Abyad districts, which were cleared of terrorism in northern Syria, protested the so-called local elections planned by the terrorist organization PKK/YPG in the regions it occupies, Tel Abyad, Syria, June 1, 2024. (AA Photo)
The U.S. announced on Friday that it does not support the planned municipal elections in areas of northeastern Syria controlled by the terrorist organization YPG/PKK, citing insufficient conditions for “free” and “inclusive” elections.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “The United States assesses that the necessary conditions for convening free, fair, transparent, and inclusive elections in Syria, including in the North and East, have not been met. Therefore, we do not support the recent announcement by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) to begin preparations for municipal elections.”
Miller emphasized that the US stance aligns with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, which mandates that any elections in Syria should meet standards of fairness and inclusivity. He reiterated that current conditions in Syria, including in the North and East, do not meet these criteria.
The statement follows the YPG’s announcement to hold municipal elections in its controlled region. Türkiye opposes these elections due to the YPG’s links to the PKK, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and the EU.
‘Türkiye will not permit terrorland’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously asserted that Türkiye will not permit the establishment of a “terrorland” on its southern borders, particularly in northern Syria and Iraq.
While the U.S. views the YPG, which later became known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a key ally in the fight against Daesh/ISIS, it does not classify it as a terrorist organization, despite recognizing the PKK as such.
The relationship between Türkiye and the U.S. has been strained over U.S. support for the YPG due to its PKK connections. The PKK has conducted a terror campaign against Türkiye for over 35 years, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths, according to official figures.
