The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Kurdish administration wants Russia-backed dialogue with Damascus

The Kurdish Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, known as Rojava, said in a statement Wednesday that it welcomes dialogue with the Syrian government to defuse the tension in the northern region under Russia’s mediation, according to a war monitor.

The Kurdish administration, which is the political interface of the Kurdish forces controlling areas in northern and northeastern Syria, said that it welcomes recent remarks of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about a dialogue between the Kurdish forces and the Syrian government.

It noted that it wants Russia to be a supporter and a guarantor in the dialogue between the Kurdish administration and the Syrian government, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The fresh stance came as Turkey has started a military operation on Wednesday to remove the Kurdish forces from Syrian border areas with Turkey.

The Turkish forces are heavily shelling positions of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Ras al-Ayn area in the countryside of the northeastern province of Hasakah and the countryside of the northern province of Raqqa.

Turkish officials have recently divulged its intention to unleash an assault against the Kurdish forces in northern Syria in order to impose a safe zone near its southern border and resettle millions of Syrian refugees.

The U.S., which is backing the SDF, has withdrawn troops from the region where Turkey was planning to target, which was seen as an abandoning to the Kurdish forces, which have been Washington’s allies in fighting against the Islamic State (IS) in northern and eastern Syria.

Ahead of the Turkish campaign, reports were saying that the Kurdish forces should embark on a dialogue with Damascus, and not to bet on Washington’s support, in order to allow the return of the government institutions to Kurdish-held areas and thus striping Turkey of the pretext of launching the assault.

Turkey sees the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG) and the SDF as separatists and terrorists, citing their links with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

With the help of the U.S.-led coalition, the Kurdish militia forces of the SDF and YPG have been controlling areas in northern Syria since the early years of the crisis in Syria, in order to force Damascus to recognize a federal rule or autonomy for the Kurds in northern Syria.

However, Syrian government officials repeatedly said that Kurdish federalization in Syria or self-rule is out of the question.

Source: Kurdish administration wants Russia-backed dialogue with Damascus – Xinhua | English.news.cn