US shares Turkey's concerns on PYD's inclusion to Geneva talks

The United States shares Turkey's concerns that the formal participation of the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the Geneva talks will give legitimacy to the group and the territories it controls in the northern Syria, although Washington differentiates the PYD from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) despite Ankara's wishes. 

The PYD's participation in the Geneva talks has been widely discussed between Turkish and American officials during Jan. 23 meetings of Vice President Joe Biden with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu, and later in phone conversations between the foreign ministers of the two sides. 

According to the diplomatic sources speaking to Hürriyet Daily News, Washington's position vis-à-vis the PYD's participation in U.N.-led talks to begin on Jan. 29 in Geneva shares similarities with the Turkish stance. 

"Washington is very mindful of Turkish sensitivities. Turkey is concerned that formal participation of the PYD in the Geneva talks will give the group on the long-term the legitimacy it has been seeking over the territories it controls. It's a legitimate concern and Washington is sensitive to this, too," was the main message delivered to Turkey by American officials during last week's high-level conversations. 

How to stop PYD from 'spoiling' talks 

U.N. Special Envoy Stefan De Mistura issued invitation letters to Geneva participants late Jan. 26. PYD co-leader Saleeh Muslim told Reuters that he did not receive an invitation from the U.N. 

However, diplomatic sources noted that Stefan De Mistura would seek a formula to include the PYD in the talks after the commencement of the process Jan. 29. De Mistura is expected to consult with the PYD at an...