By Esra Kaymak Avci
WASHINGTON
The U.S. will not recognize any self-rule or semi autonomous zones in Syria, a spokesman said Monday over reports saying that the PYD was preparing to announce a federal region in northern Syria.
"We have not and will not recognize any self-rule, semi-autonomous zone. We remain committed to the unity and territorial integrity of Syria," the State Department's Mark Toner said during a press briefing.
The announcement follows a lot of discussions between Turkey and the U.S. as Turkey has been considering the PYD as the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist group PKK, whereas the U.S. insistently has said it was a "reliable partner" on the ground to fight Daesh.
The terrorist PKK's Syrian affiliate PYD already controls most of northern Syria -- along the border with Turkey -- and prepares to declare a federal system on Wednesday, a PYD spokesman said, according to some media reports.
This announcement comes after Syria's regime in Damascus ruled out the idea of a federal model for the country and its ally, Russia, has said federalism could be a possible model for Syria.
Ankara has repeatedly voiced its concern over the PYD's affiliation with the PKK and the sharing of logistical information and weaponry between them.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had said that Turkey has no problem with the Kurds in Syria, but the PYD would not be considered a legitimate party or representative of Syrian Kurds due to its relations with the PKK.
Last October, the U.S. also had provided arms to the PYD, which was heavily criticized then by Ankara.
According to Daily Sabah, the U.S. air force had dropped 50 tons of arms and ammunition to the PYD in the northern Syrian province of al-Hasakah.
The 112 pallets reportedly contained ammunition for M-16s and AK-47s. Last month, the State Department's John Kirby had said that the U.S. was firmly in favor of a Syria free of any type of sectarianism.
"We support a whole, unified, nonsectarian Syria. It's right there in black and white," he said.
Upon Turkey's request, PYD was neither invited to the first Syria peace talks in January, nor to the second one in March.
