Turkey says YPG should not be in Astana talks, welcomes US

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that Turkey would welcome the United States at the Syria peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, but the PKK-affiliated YPG militia should not be involved.

Speaking to reporters in the southern Turkish city of Alanya, Cavusoglu said that that Turkey told Russia from the start that a terrorist organization like the YPG should not be in Astana. "If the PYD/YPG lays down arms and starts supporting Syrian territorial integrity, they can be included within the framework of a comprehensive solution," he said.

A countrywide ceasefire in Syria went into effect at midnight on Thursday (2200GMT), after Turkey, Russia and opposition fighting factions reached a deal in the Turkish capital Ankara. Turkey and Russia will act as guarantor countries for the implementation of the ceasefire.

The deal stipulates that negotiations to find a political solution would be held within one month if the ceasefire is implemented successfully.