SOHR exclusive | “Rapprochement between Ankara and Damascus rehabilitates Al-Assad’s regime with all political and security characteristics,” says Badran Jia Kurd
In an exclusive SOHR interview, Badran Jia Kurd, a vice president of the regional administration, stated that the rapprochement between Ankara and Damascus, with Russian-Iranian mediation threatens all areas outside the Syrian regime’s control and rehabilitates Al-Assad’s regime with all its political and security characteristics. Badran clarifies that the two sides are working on reaching a comprehensive reconciliation between the Turkish-backed opposition groups and Damascus government, as well as developing the joint efforts between them to abort the project of the Autonomous Administration through reactivating some security agreements. This means that the reconciliation aims at eliminating all opposition groups under the pretext of “following political solutions.” However, such plans, which are a repetition of the scenarios of Daraa, Ghouta and Aleppo, are too far from any political solutions, as they rule out peaceful transition of power in Syria, according to Mr. Badran.
Badran Jia Kurd says, “the recent international and regional developments, the fact that the Autonomous Administration’s project does not serve the interests and desired objectives of both sides (Damascus and Ankara) and the fact that the political methodology followed by the Autonomous Administration, which has been based on Syria’s national concepts, remain the basic pillars of dialogue and political settlement away from the terms of reconciliations and bargain deals. We have adopted clear political stances regarding the Syrian crisis and the political solution for the crisis. We are adherent to these stances, and we will never abandon any of them or be lured by plans threatening the unity of the Syrian people.”
Replying a question about the serious consequences of an expected bargain deal stipulating the handing over of Idlib to regime forces and allowing them to impose full control of M4 highway in return for letting Turkey to escalate its military operations in north-east Syria, Mr. Badran says, “of course, the Syrian regime is attempting to impose its control over international highways and border crossings, which are major economic resources, so that it can pass its economic hardships. Any agreement will allow regime forces to advance into areas under the control of the occupying Turkish forces and groups of mercenaries in return for allowing Turkey to accomplish its only strategic goal which is manifested in attacking areas under the control of the ‘Autonomous Administration.’ Accordingly, Turkey will use various offensive and aggressive methods to eliminate the Autonomous Administration.”
Commenting on the expected diplomatic efforts by the Autonomous Administration to stop this plan which poses a threat to north Syria region, Mr. Badran sees that the Turkish plan will affect all civilians across Syria, as Turkey aims at entering with influential powers in Syria into a series of bargain deals. Mr. Badran clarifies “it is strictly necessary to unify the ranks and stances of all Syrians against such polices, especially after the unbearable suffering of Syrian people, including killing, displacement and destruction. Syrian people will never accept to return to the starting point of the conflict. We, the Autonomous Administration, are working on intensive programmes with all segments of Syrian society in and outside Syria, and we will work on all axis in order to foil all of these offensive plans and polices. We also exert diligent efforts in terms of the relations with foreign powers to gain allies who believe in the ability of political settlements to play out in favour of Syrian people and save Syria from division by unifying political discourse and efforts to counter polices which have led Syria and its people to this catastrophic situation. The Autonomous Administration and all of its institutions and resources are gains for Syrians, and they can be a stable and national base for a comprehensive democratic settlement for all Syrian people.”