Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masood Barzani has criticized the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliated Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorists harshly, saying that they have been inflicting more cruelty than the Baas regime.
"PKK came to a dead end after it turned the cities to battlefields and started to target civilians. And PYD has been inflicting more cruelty than the Baas regime," said Barzani during the meeting with MPs of Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as Mehdi Eker, Galip Ensarioğlu, Ebubekir Bal, Abdullah Ağralı and Orhan Miroğlu, according to the Türkiye daily newspaper.
"My father never let civilians be hurt during the 50-year-long fight against the regime. We never destroyed any schools, roads or energy plants," said Barzani.
"The tribal leaders fleeing PYD violence, came us to take shelter. We are always aware that waiting for peace for ten years is more valuable than fighting for a day. Assad took the advantage of PYD but didn't pledge anything to guarantee the status of the Kurdish people, " the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government leader said.
Barzani previously said that PKK and PYD are exactly the same thing.
"Any support to the PYD means support for the PKK (because) they are exactly the same thing," said Barzani, emphasizing that PYD does not appear to be sincere about democracy due to its actions on the ground.
Barzani previously stated that the fate of the Rojava Kurds is still unclear, saying that they should decide whether they are for or against the Assad regime.
"None of the parties, the Syrian government or opponents, recognize the rights of the Kurdish people. Even among Kurdish groups, disintegration has been rising. They have had serious losses due to disintegration. They should be integrated immediately," said Barzani previously.
