Turkey warns US meeting with SDF chief would 'legitimize terrorists'

Any meeting with Syrian Kurdish-led force risked "legitimizing terrorists", Turkey warned the US on October 25. The statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu came as US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had talked with Mazlum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which fought against extremists in Syria. Trump also added that he really enjoyed the conversation with Mazlum Abdi. This was preceded by his tweet on Wednesday which indicated the possibility of his one to one meeting between them. Earlier this week, a group of American senators including Lindsey Graham reportedly sought to expedite a visa for Abdi to enable his visit to the US. They want him to talk to the officials and lawmakers on the situation on the ground in Syria. 

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Turkish Foreign minister calls Abdi as 'terrorist'

“If you start legitimizing terrorists like this, tomorrow you will end up meeting with Baghdadi as well,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on a television channel.

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The Foreign Minister inferred Trump's probable meeting with the head of the militant Islamic State (IS) extremist group,  Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He told the reporters in Baku that it is not acceptable for Turkey's allies to meet with a terrorist wanted under a red notice, inferring Kurds. The Turkish Ministry has informed the same to the US in a written note, he informed. As per reports, the middle east country which recently launched its offensive against Syria claims that there is an Interpol red notice for Abdi issued in 2011.

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Turkish Justice Minister mentions charges against Abdi

Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul earlier on Friday said in a statement to the media that there is a red bulletin, an arrest warrant against Abdi and he should be caught, arrested and extradited to Turkey. The Minister told that Turkish diplomats had conveyed the same to US counterparts at the Turkish border town of Akcakale, calling Abdi a wanted individual. Turkey launched an offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia, whose fighters make up the bulk of the SDF. US-Turkey relations have been tense since then.

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