Talks between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Damascus Interim Government, centred on the 10 March Agreement, remain uncertain. Following talks in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Interim Government President Ahmed El Shara, it was announced that progress had been made towards the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian army and a "security agreement" with Israel. During the same period, with the increase in attacks against the Alevi and Druze communities in the field, discussions began about the Damascus Administration giving space to DAESH. 

 

In light of all these developments, Salih Muslim, a member of the Co-Presidency Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), spoke to our agency about Turkey's role in the stalled negotiation process and the new political landscape in the region.

 

Muslim stated that meetings were held with the Autonomous Administration before Shara went to Washington, and that committees had been established to implement the 10 March Agreement. Muslim stated that the subsequent process had not progressed, noting that the meeting had been held to create the impression that issues with the Autonomous Administration were being discussed in the United States. He added that the parties had made positive statements regarding the 10 March Agreement but that no steps had been taken. 

 

Muslim stated that Turkey constantly called for the implementation of the 10 March Agreement but did not pursue a corresponding policy behind the scenes, adding that paramilitary groups affiliated with Turkey occasionally carried out attacks on the borders of the Autonomous Administration. 

 

SYRIA'S INTERNAL WORKINGS AND TURKEY

 

Muslim pointed out that certain groups within Turkey were exploiting the problems in Syria for their own benefit, adding that they were trying to cause trouble in the North in order to disrupt the process that had been initiated regarding the Kurdish issue. 

 

He stated that the ongoing process was being conducted through external figures such as Shara and Shaybani, and that they were not very committed to a solution. "As far as we understand, the hegemonic powers wanted peace for their own interests. The arrival of peace and tranquillity is also dependent on the 10 March Agreement. Therefore, no one can say they are against the embargo. They want to undermine it from within and prevent the agreement from being implemented."

 

BORDER CROSSINGS SHOULD BE OPENED

 

Muslim pointed out that the borders with Turkey should be opened and stated that they were making efforts to improve relations with Turkey. Muslim emphasised that the Syrian government had not requested this until now, but that the Autonomous Administration's request was based on conditions suitable for coexistence. "We want our citizens to be able to come and go freely," he said.

 

'THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE TO STOP THE ALEVI MASSACRE'

 

Referring to the attacks launched by the Damascus Administration against the Alevis and Druze in recent days, Muslim noted that the agreement was for all of Syria and that its first two articles were for the ethnic groups in Syria.

 

He added: "This agreement was made to stop the Alevi massacre. It seems that the government's views were not in this direction. Until now, the government has wanted to be the sole government, to have power. The Druze have always defended Syria since its founding in 1946. But the government says, 'Everyone should be Muslim. The Druze are not Muslim, the Alevis have left the religion'. The current reaction against the government is because of this. The government wants to continue its hostility, including towards the Kurdish issue, to this day. This is not good for Syria's future." 

 

'INTERNATIONAL POWERS HAVE STARTED TO THINK'

 

Muslim also drew attention to the cooperation between the Damascus regime and DAESH, saying, "Everyone fled while DAESH was fighting us. They went to Idlib and changed their names and clothes. What happened there was a secret theatre. When the HTS Government came to power, they were still there. The sleeper cells also woke up. When the government fell, many groups took up arms." 

 

"That's why we can't say the government will fight DAESH. They are the same, both ideologically and in terms of their ideas, so we don't take this issue seriously. International powers have also started to think about this." 

 

MEETING WITH ABDULLAH OCALAN

 

Speaking about the commission established in Parliament in the context of the Peace and Democratic Society Process visiting Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali and the content of the meeting, Muslim stated that the government wanted Ocalan to announce that the Kurds had renounced the rights they had gained in Syria. 

 

Muslim stressed: "But the Kurdish People's Leader proved once again. He will not say 'the people of Rojava will surrender to the jihadists'. He says, 'There will be a democratic system there so that there can be integration. Without a democratic system, there will be no integration in Syria.' The establishment of a democratic system will also affect Turkey. He is again insisting on democracy. Without democracy, there will be no integration."

 

Muslim added that the Kurdish people also want democracy and are fighting for it in all four parts: "The Kurdish people are also leading this process. We want to bring democracy together, wherever we are, because if democracy comes, it will bring us the solution. The Kurdish people are also leading this process."

 

MA / Melik Varol