Turkey condemns France over hosting of Kurdish delegation

Turkey condemns France over hosting of Kurdish delegation
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Ankara has expressed anger over a Newroz reception at the French Senate, where YPG and YPJ spokespersons were awarded Medal of Honor.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned the French ambassador in Ankara on Monday to condemn a visit at the French Senate by a delegation from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

Turkish state news agency AA said that ambassador Herve Magro was summoned "to strongly condemn the hosting of YPG/PKK terrorists in the French Senate and awarding them with medal of honor."

"Ankara expects French authorities to not give credit to the efforts that provide international legitimacy to PKK's extensions in Syria," AA cited ministry sources saying.

As part of the Newroz Reception held in Paris on Saturday, Nuri Mahmoud, spokesperson for the People's Defense Units (YPG), and Roxsana Muhammad, spokeswoman for the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), were awarded the Medal of Honor by French Senator Xavier Ecoville.

The reception for Newroz - marking the arrival of the new year on the vernal equinox in Kurdish and Persian cultures - was attended by many French politicians.

Pierre Laurent, the Vice President of the French Senate, said:

"This week, I had the honor of welcoming a delegation from the Administrative Authority of Northeastern Syria (AANES) to the Senate! Exchanges on the situation in Rojava with Bedran Ciya Kurd Abdulkarim Omar, Nuri Mahmoud, Roxanne Muhammad, Khaled Issa."

YPG and YPJ are Kurdish-led self defense forces that emerged in the course of the Syrian civil war. They are major constituents of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that is the de facto armed force of the AANES, and a partner of the US led global coalition in Syria.

Turkish authorities claim that YPG and YPJ are linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated a "terrorist group" by Ankara.