PYD co-chair Xerîb Hiso spoke to ANF about the latest situation in Syria, the 10 March Agreement, and the threats made by Turkish state officials against the regions of Northern and Eastern Syria.
Pointing out that the Syrian Transitional Government has failed to gain the trust of the people over the past year, Hiso said: “The will of the people has been ignored. Syria is not a country made up of a single nation or a single sect. There are many cultures and structures, but these have been denied and not accepted. The Transitional Government is following in the footsteps of the Baath regime. Massacres have been carried out by a government calling itself ‘transitional,’ yet nothing has been done to achieve a real transition. Gang groups like ISIS, which were on the verge of total collapse, have been renewed and are now part of the transitional government. What benefit can the Transitional Government gain from such groups? That is why the Syrian people have endured a year of great suffering.”
The problem is in Damascus
Hiso underlined that an agreement was signed on 10 March between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration to resolve the problems, and that the agreement is effective, but that Damascus has not taken the necessary steps. He said: “When it comes to Syria, all regional and international powers emphasize the agreement. The agreement offers a democratic solution and a new model. Its first article mentions all components, and Shara also signed it. However, it has not been implemented on the ground. The problem lies in Damascus; when it comes time to implement the agreement, it steps back and fails to fulfill its requirements.”
We are ready for a solution, but Turkey is blocking it
Hiso continued: “Our representatives are ready for all articles of the agreement to be implemented. The agreement will ensure integration, but this is a democratic process. It is not only about security; there are also social, political, economic, women’s, and youth dimensions. Unfortunately, they insist only on the military aspect.
Turkey is obstructing the implementation of the 10 March Agreement and views Syria as if it were its own borderland. This approach does not work; merely repeating the ‘10 March Agreement’ is not enough. We will implement the agreement with Damascus. If Turkey insists on the agreement, it should support it, not threaten it.
An agreement has been signed, and it is beneficial for both Syria and neighboring countries. Turkey constantly says it will ‘disarm the SDF.’ That stage has passed. The SDF has reached a certain level with Damascus. All parties evaluated this positively, but it is currently blocked by Damascus. In my view, Damascus and Turkey are preventing the agreement from being put into practice. Hakan Fidan is threatening our will. The AKP spokesperson is also issuing threats. This situation emboldens extremist nationalist groups. They attack our will and use malicious language. These attacks draw their strength from this policy of threats.
They incite various gang groups and send them against us. There is a siege over the neighborhoods of Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiyê. In Afrin and Serêkaniyê, very serious incidents and actions are taking place to prevent refugees from returning. Talks are held between the Autonomous Administration and Damascus, and attempts are made to reach consensus, but Turkey intervenes. Under these conditions, no agreement can be achieved.”
Turkey’s policy creates danger for the process
Recalling that Turkey has entered a new peace initiative process, Xerîb Hiso said: “Abdullah Öcalan’s February 27 call has drawn the entire region into a search for change, dialogue, freedom, and democracy. All regions and countries have entered a new phase with this call. This means an exit from centralism, massacres, war, and denial. Turkey has also become part of this process and is discussing solutions. We support this process and hope it progresses. However, the policy pursued in Syria poses a major threat to this process.”
If Damascus is ready, there will be progress
Stating that Syria is also in a transition process and that significant progress could be made if Damascus is ready, Hiso said: “The new year is approaching; most likely, the relevant parties will focus on reaching an agreement on the situation in Syria and implementing it. We are in a new phase. This is not a period of war; it is a period of solution, peace, and a democratic society.
There are Arab, Kurdish, Circassian, Turkmen, Christian, Assyrian, Syriac, Druze, and Alawite communities in Syria. If there is to be a solution, all of them must be taken into account. In order to achieve a real solution and implement the March 10 Agreement, the Syrian Constitution must first be amended.
If Turkey wants a solution, it must also engage in dialogue with the Autonomous Administration and the SDF. There is a basis for peace and dialogue in Syria. Our goal is the unity of peoples. We have a social contract. Our stance against all attacks is unified. Our ideas are new and democratic. The SDF is part of this and is composed of Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Syriacs, Turkmen, Yazidis, and Christians. There is a women’s defense force, and it is fighting ISIS together with the International Coalition. All peoples and components of Syria are watching this model.”
Stating that Turkey’s fear stems from the new social order, democratic understanding, and collective will of the people that have emerged in northern Syria over the past 10–15 years, PYD Co-Chair Xerîb Hiso concluded: “Turkey fears that this model will spread throughout Syria. If Turkey truly wants to play a role for peace, it must engage in dialogue with all parties and open the door to talks with the Autonomous Administration. They want to damage people’s psychology through special warfare practices, but the people have carried out a revolution. This revolution will continue the struggle with a bright force, organization, and an unprecedented will. We are always open and ready for dialogue, negotiation, and solutions.
Taking advantage of the collapse of the regime, Turkey has established military control in Syria. This is an open occupation. Serêkaniyê, Girê Spî, Azaz, Jarablus, and Afrin are under Turkey’s control. If peace and reconciliation are truly desired, Turkey must withdraw from Syrian territory.”