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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday that a declaration by the YPG announcing the dissolution of its self-styled autonomous administration in Syria, along with all affiliated military and civilian structures, would mark a positive step for the region if it is carried out in practice.
Speaking to reporters in the eastern province of Elazig, where he held meetings with local officials and lawmakers, Fidan said Ankara would withhold judgment until the announcement is verified on the ground.
"Our job is to act professionally and verify what this means on the ground," Fidan said. "If it is as stated, it is of course a welcome development."
The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, a group designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union.
Ankara has long objected to the YPG's dominant role in northeastern Syria, viewing it as an extension of a decades-long insurgency waged by the PKK inside Türkiye.
Fidan said the reported disbanding of the YPG's structures would help foster unity among Syria's diverse communities. "It complements all the steps we currently want to take," he said. "It is a step that will strengthen Kurdish-Arab brotherhood in Syria."
He added that such a move would help create conditions in which "all Syrians can look to the future with confidence."
At the same time, Fidan stressed that any changes in Syria must respect the country's unity. "We emphasize that while the identity of Kurds must be protected and there must be no denial of their identity, Syria's national unity, sovereign integrity, and territorial integrity must also be preserved," he said. "We want to see this reflected in practice."
Fidan said Türkiye does not view developments that run counter to these principles as beneficial to Syria, noting that the YPG's presence in the region has for years posed a challenge to both Syria and Türkiye. "Hopefully, in this new process, we will resolve all these problems through mutual understanding and dialogue," he said. "We will resolve them through peace."
Fidan said he had spent the previous two days traveling by road through provinces and districts in eastern Türkiye and had witnessed firsthand the region's potential for growth.
"Regional development and progress are truly the right of this region just as much as anyone else," he said, adding that "in environments without terrorism, in environments where weapons are not speaking, we see how quickly development advances, how much progress can be made."
He described Türkiye's broader strategy as one centered on peace, stability, development and prosperity across Türkiye, Syria, Iraq and the wider region, saying the government is pursuing this vision "step by step" under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Fidan reiterated that the wording of the YPG's Damascus statement was encouraging but that its value would depend on implementation. "If it is implemented in practice as stated, it is highly positive," he said.
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Fidan, who called Elazig "a sacred city," said he held productive discussions with the province's governor, Numan Hatipoglu, and its members of parliament.
He pointed to the province's recovery since the February 2023 earthquakes, which killed tens of thousands of people across southeastern Türkiye and neighboring Syria, saying it was a source of pride that damaged areas had been rebuilt and residents had returned to new homes. He also cited improving economic conditions and rising local investment.
Fidan noted that before arriving in Elazig, he had joined Erdogan in Ahlat for events marking the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt, also known as Manzikert, where a Cabinet meeting was also held.
The 1071 battle, in which Seljuk Turkish forces defeated the Byzantine army, is widely regarded as opening Anatolia to Turkish settlement and is commemorated annually in Türkiye as a foundational moment in Turkish history.
Fidan described the battle and the civilization that followed as "an intellectual treasure and a legacy from the past that we all need to remember repeatedly, reflect upon, and embrace," and said Anatolia's subsequent history as a shared home for Turks, Kurds, Arabs and other peoples underscored the value of that legacy.
He said current geopolitical competition has made Türkiye's role in the region "even more significant."
"We are truly proud of Elazig," Fidan said.
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