Turkey protests with UN office, Geneva over PKK deal

GENEVA- Anadolu Agency

Turkey has lodged protests with U.N.'s Geneva office for signing a deal with PKK terror group and Switzerland for giving entry to the terrorists, officials said on July 4.           

The protest notes came after U.N. Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba's meeting with Ferhat Abdi Şahin- who commands SDF, a label used by the terrorist group PKK/YPG- to sign an "action plan" at the U.N. Office in Geneva without the knowledge of the members.         

In the protest notes, Turkey's permanent mission to the U.N. office at Geneva documented that Şahin was sought by the Interpol with a red notice.         

The permanent mission also got in touch with the office of Geir O. Pedersen, the U.N.'s special envoy for Syria, on whether they had knowledge about the "action plan.”       

The officials working for the Pedersen's office told Turkish diplomats that they had no idea about Saturday's signing ceremony of "action plan.” 

The U.N. signed an “action plan” with PKK/YPG supposedly to stop the recruitment of children for terrorist actions.         

On July 2, Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the signing of the controversial agreement and said: “There can be no explanation for the U.N., which should be at the forefront in the fight against terrorism, to strike a deal with a terrorist organization. This act also constitutes a clear breach by the U.N. of its own resolutions on terrorism."         

PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU. The YPG is its Syrian branch.