Salih Muslim, a member of the co-presidential Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), spoke to ANF about the latest developments in Syria, including recent statements by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Commander Mazloum Abdi on military integration.
Muslim stated that the recent talks between the Damascus Interim Government and the Autonomous Administration forces were held within the framework of the 10 March agreement and noted that many issues had been discussed in the meetings, such as the process of military integration and the formation of a new constitution.
Muslim said that the SDF could become an important part of the new Syrian Army, emphasizing that the security of the Autonomous Administration would remain under the control of the SDF. He also stated that Turkey has no place in this new equation in Syria and underlined that the developments in Syria are not connected to the solution process in Turkey.
I would like to begin with the statement made by SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi. The General announced that a military delegation will soon go to Damascus to discuss how the SDF will be integrated. What exactly does his statement mean?
Yes, we are facing a new situation. Since we have not yet had the chance to speak with the General, I am not fully informed of the details of this development. But I will try to interpret it and share what I know about the matter.
What the General said is not unfamiliar to us. As you know, there was the 10 March Agreement, and one of the articles of that agreement was about integration. The issue of integration covered the entire administration, both militarily and civilly. However, the Damascus Interim Government delayed this process and tried to avoid carrying it out. Influenced by the powers behind it, the Damascus government did not take this agreement seriously and tried to evade it. Therefore, the issue of integration was postponed and left pending. There was communication and dialogue between the Damascus government and the Autonomous Administration, but no concrete result was reached.
As you know, the United States Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, and the Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, recently visited the Autonomous Administration. This visit actually showed the seriousness of the situation, because when the 10 March Agreement was signed, they were also present as observers in the process. At this stage, they realized that the failure to implement the agreement did not stem from us, but from the attitude of the other side.
Based on this, a short while ago a delegation, along with officials from the Autonomous Administration and the SDF, went to Damascus and held a meeting with the Damascus Interim Government. Under the observation of this delegation, officials from the Autonomous Administration and the government discussed and addressed a number of issues.”
The Autonomous Administration territories will remain under SDF control
The issue of military integration was also among the topics discussed. What General Mazloum said is a result of the most recent meeting. The matter of military integration has two dimensions. A delegation will go to Damascus soon and discuss how the integration will take place from a military perspective. We do not yet know the details because no final conclusion has been reached so far. But it appears that some units of the SDF will be integrated into the new military structure that will be formed. In other words, the territories of the Autonomous Administration will remain under the control of the SDF. This is what is being planned.
There may be small-scale cooperation in the security and protection of certain areas. This is the first dimension.
Joint forces will be formed against terrorism
The second dimension concerns the Anti-Terror Units (YAT). This will take place under the framework of joint action against terrorism. As is known, in 2015 an agreement was reached between the Coalition forces and first the People’s Protection Units (YPG), and later the SDF, to fight terrorism. Since that day, great trust has developed between the Coalition and the SDF, and a joint struggle has been waged against ISIS. They have been acting together for ten years. All operations against ISIS in many parts of Syria, even in the west of the country, were carried out in coordination between these two forces.
Recently, ISIS has begun to increase its activity in many areas and has attempted attacks in some places. Especially after the withdrawal of the Russians, ISIS expanded further into the areas left empty. They have even infiltrated our regions. According to the latest information we have received, they have begun infiltrating major cities and have extended their presence around Damascus. For this reason, the Coalition wants to expand the areas of struggle against ISIS together with the YAT. One of the conditions the Coalition presented to the new government in Damascus is that they must also participate in the fight against ISIS. In the meeting that was held, it was decided that this struggle will be carried out jointly by the YAT, the Coalition forces and the special units of the new government. What General Mazloum said must be understood within this framework. In other words, our forces, the special units of Damascus and the international Coalition forces will fight ISIS together throughout Syria. We will see the results and further details of this in the upcoming period.
In addition to the joint struggle against ISIS, you mentioned a military integration process under the New Syrian Army. How will this take shape?
The delegation that will go to Damascus will discuss full military integration. A new Syrian army will be formed, and the SDF will be a major part of it. In fact, the new Syrian army will be established with our forces forming its core.
This will take shape entirely separate from the units established to fight terrorism.
Joint committees will be formed again
What stage is the issue of ‘civil integration’ at? Are there any new developments in this regard?
We still do not know the details of this either. But in the last meeting, some points were discussed verbally regarding how it should be. In practice, committees will again be formed, just as they were in the past. These committees will sit down, hold discussions and try to develop a solution through dialogue. But it is too early to expect a result. Such a process takes time. Even though our own committees are ready, the other side has not yet formed theirs. Once they do, joint committees will be established and the dialogue process will begin.
The situation in Syria is often presented as an important element of the ongoing solution process for a democratic resolution of the Kurdish question. Is this “integration” issue taking place within the framework of the solution process led by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, or is it completely independent of that process?
No, it is not a development connected to that process. However, we do benefit from that process. We take into consideration the statements made by Abdullah Öcalan, but this is not something that is proceeding in connection with it. On the other hand, Abdullah Öcalan has, with his new ideas, influenced the entire Middle East.
As you know, they frequently try to associate us with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). But that is not the truth; we make our own decisions ourselves. Of course, we respect Abdullah Öcalan’s philosophy and views and we align ourselves accordingly. But our decisions are in our own hands. As I said, we benefit from this process.
What I mean is this: we make our own decisions here, but we benefit from Öcalan’s ideas. Besides, this is not something unique to us; many groups want to benefit from his ideas, because Öcalan’s views serve as a guiding path for the entire Middle East.
In the recent talks and in the issue of military “integration,” where does Turkey stand?
So far, Turkey is not part of this process. Turkey certainly does not want such a process. The most recent events in the region support this view. What happened in Aleppo seemed like a provocation to us. Considering the timing of the visit by the United States Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack and the recent incidents, it really looks like a provocation.
Turkish state officials present the stance of the Autonomous Administration as an obstacle to the solution process, and they try to portray it as if there is a disagreement between Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the Autonomous Administration. What would you say about this?
No, that is absolutely not true. Nothing has been directly said to us regarding such a claim. There is nothing in Öcalan’s statements that contradicts our views. Nor have we done anything that goes against his ideas. Öcalan created free individuals, and free individuals can make their own decisions and express their own ideas.
Turkey is trying to interfere by throwing around certain statements. They speculate as if there is no dialogue or communication among us. But that is not the truth. What does Turkey want? They want the SDF to dissolve themselves and for individuals to join the Syrian army one by one. We reject this. Öcalan’s stance on this matter is already clear. He has repeatedly said that if we lay down our arms, they would slaughter us overnight. He would never accept such a scenario.
Will the relations between the Autonomous Administration and the forces of the Damascus government from now on proceed under the observation or even protection of the United States? Will the shape of this process depend on the U.S. position? After all, we are still faced with a Damascus government that has not fully broken away from Turkey’s influence.
I think now a divergence between Turkey and the Western powers, meaning the hegemonic powers, has become clearer.
It was these powers that brought the Damascus administration to power in the first place. Now, however, a difference has emerged between them and Turkey. Things are no longer going the way Turkey wants. Of course, I do not know how long this divergence will last. It will become clearer in time. The main point is that all the powers involved in Syria see the stability of Syria as being in their own interest. They genuinely want stability to be established in Syria. But what kind of stability? At this point, we demand a just stability. If a just stability is achieved, it will be permanent. This is where the difference between us and these powers lies. For example, United States Envoy Thomas Barrack used to say something different in the past, but later his stance changed. Then he came here, supported our ideas, and said he wanted such a situation to emerge.
There are talks with Turkey
Does the Autonomous Administration have relations with Turkey? It had been stated before that some talks were taking place. Are these talks still ongoing?
I do not know exactly. There are some contacts through the official responsible for foreign relations of the Autonomous Administration. These talks happen behind closed doors, not in public. Even though I do not know at what stage they are, there are indeed talks.
At this stage, is it clear for the hegemonic powers what kind of structure the new Syria should be built on? Is there a common understanding on recognizing the Autonomous Administration, a federal Syria or decentralization?
It is changing gradually. Earlier, everyone used to repeat Turkey’s demands or statements. The Damascus Interim Government was repeating the same things. But after we persisted, the other powers and in fact everyone understood that there should not be a centralized system.
In our view, Syria is like a mosaic. Everyone, both in terms of faith and ethnic identity, is part of this mosaic. To keep these differences together, there must be a non-centralized system, such as autonomy. At the very least, we argue that there must be a decentralized system. How this system will take shape must be decided by the Syrian people. These issues will become clearer during the upcoming negotiation process.
At the core of this lies the issue of a constitution. As you know, an interim constitution had been declared. But no one accepted it. This was discussed during the talks and it was agreed that it would be amended.
In the latest meeting between the Autonomous Administration and the Damascus Interim Government, was the issue of how the constitution should be shaped also discussed?
Yes, this matter was also addressed in the last meeting. It was part of the discussions. I believe that in the upcoming process, how the constitution should be formed will be reviewed. They will reorganize this interim constitution.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything you would like to add?
Our people must trust us and the administration here. We are strong, and the ideas guided by Abdullah Öcalan are in effect. We think of our people and we will continue the struggle.