Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Rojava Autonomous Administration, answered journalists’ questions via Zoom regarding the agreement signed between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus. Greeting the Kurdish people and their friends, Ilham Ahmed emphasized that the Kurdish people have been standing up for days and are still continuing their struggle. She said: “These serhildans were for reaching this result. Your serhildans, your resistance, achieved results. From now on it is still necessary and must not stop.”
Stating that the agreement was signed to prevent bloodshed and massacres against Kurds, Ilham Ahmed said: “There are some announced articles. One is an open-ended ceasefire. In order to guarantee this ceasefire, it was planned that forces constantly engaged in fighting at the front would withdraw to their own areas. A distance is being placed between the SDF and government forces. Militarization will be based on this arrangement. Three brigades will be in Hesekê and one brigade in Kobanê. These are region-specific brigades, local forces. There is constant talk of integration. Our Asayish forces will not change; they will remain official forces in their own regions and stay where they are. Some will join the official Ministry of Interior until arrangements are finalized. An internal security force will be deployed to Hesekê. There is speculation; we are aware of it. Our Asayish will remain a regional force. There are concerns; we know.”
Ilham Ahmed continued: “All defense forces will, in general, be integrated into the Syrian Transitional Government. Their commanders will be selected by us. Those responsible, the institutions and educators, will be formalized and will preserve their own institutional structures.
Education in mother tongue
In education, mother-tongue instruction will be officially accepted. We have agreed on education being in the mother tongue. This will be formally written down. High schools and universities will be officially recognized. A decree will be issued regarding this. Details on education will continue through dialogue. Diplomas issued by the Autonomous Administration will also be recognized. In principle, there is acceptance regarding education.
The struggle is moving to another stage
We will determine the governor of Hesekê. Our official institutions will also be subject to integration. Border security will be handled by the region. There are discussions on how this will work with state ministries. Matters related to crossings and borders have been explained article by article. Those working in these institutions will be local. Even if restructured, they will remain regional. One stage of the struggle is being completed. Heavy prices were paid. We are grateful to those who were martyred for this cause. Our resistance will continue to fulfill their aspirations. The struggle is moving to another stage. Politically, our struggle will also continue.
Plans must be foiled through struggle
More work is needed on what must be done for joint efforts. There are discussions about having our representatives working within government ministries. Elections may also take place in the future. The division of responsibilities will be on our agenda. Big plans were made regarding the gains of the revolution. Continuing the struggle is important in order to foil these plans, protect our people and safeguard our gains. The struggle must be carried out through legal means. We had friends at the international level, and our people were standing up. In the process of signing and sharing this agreement, Kurdish friends, the regional government, and political representatives from Başûr, Bakur and other places were consulted and their suggestions were taken.
We define it this way: we have brought it to a certain stage, and it must continue. A campaign is underway in the United States, and it needs to be strengthened. This agreement will not undermine the initiatives that have been made. Nor do we want to undermine these initiatives through this agreement. Members of Congress must be reached. Such a law must be enacted. We can do this at the beginning of this struggle.
Turkey will withdraw from Afrin and Serêkaniyê
We have initiatives for the people of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah and Shehba to return to their homes. There are also efforts regarding Serêkaniyê, which is still under Turkey’s control. Afrin is still in Turkey’s hands, and it too will be evacuated. Our initiatives continue for the return of our people. We want to continue negotiations within the framework of political will rather than armed negotiation. The possibility of armed struggle always exists. International states must act as guarantors. There is currently very strong international support. The French President has stated that he is ready to act as a guarantor. Likewise, the United States is also involved as a guarantor, as are other countries.
We must be alert and cautious
We must be vigilant so that war does not prevail. We must be careful. We have succeeded in forming this will, but there may be those who want to disrupt it at any moment. There are forces that do not want this. Those who want to massacre Kurds exist; against these possibilities we must remain alert and cautious. It is important to detail certain articles for the implementation and monitoring of this agreement. This must be followed up. Until this agreement is fully implemented, we must remain vigilant.
YPJ will remain within the SDF
The YPJ is within the SDF. They will remain within the SDF. The Semalka Border Crossing will be opened; this is included in the agreement. Those working there will continue to carry out their official duties with the government. It has been said many times that negotiation must be pursued to prevent war. With the involvement of France, the United States, and Arab countries, this process was reached. An agreement has now been achieved. From now on, how it will be implemented will be important.
The US did not play the expected role
France and the United States will make statements on the matter. We also raised this in our own meetings. We said there must be a mechanism for the ceasefire and for monitoring it. The parties will withdraw to the planned locations so that the ceasefire can be implemented. America did not play the role expected of it; on the contrary, it played a negative role. The United States bears primary responsibility regarding Syria. It is expected to play a fair role. Protecting peoples is one of the most important issues. For this reason, the United States is asked to play a role in this matter.”