The German government has clarified that it does not view the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) as a terrorist organization and also said it should be included in peace talks over Syria's future.
According to the German Die Welt newspaper the government had previously not made clear its position on this issue given the fact that it is trying to negotiate a deal with Turkey over refugees.
The government clarified its position when asked by Sevin Dagdelen (a German politician in the Left Party of Turkish origin). In reply to her question the government outlined its position, "Neither the Democratic Union Party nor its armed wing, the People's Protection Units are listed by the UN Security Council as a terrorist organization. Although they are generally considered to be regional branches of the PKK, which in turn is listed as a terrorist organization in the European Union. These organizations however are not listed."
The distinction is not unlike the one used by the United States and its allies who have found the YPG to be a useful ad-hoc ground ally against ISIS in Syria.
Dagdelen believed this response to be "substantive." She also asked the government if they believe the PYD should be included in Syrian peace talks. The government reply pointed out that while the PYD is not technically part of the opposition it believes that peace talks should be "inclusive" and include the PYD also.
Turkey has been adamant in its insistence that the PYD and its armed wing, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), are no different than the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey and Germany both agree are a terrorist outfit.
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