Çiya Kurd: Occupation policies cannot bring solution to Syria

The 16th round of the Astana meetings took place on the 7th and 8th of July between (Russia, Iran and Turkey) under the pretext of finding a solution to the Syrian crisis, but the final statement issued by the meeting addressed the interests of the three countries.

As was customary in the Astana meetings, the final statement accused the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria of attempts of what the statement called separation.

The Vice Co-chairmanship of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Badran Çiya Kurd, rejected the results of the Astana 16th meeting.

The participants in Astana are the beneficiaries

Çiya Kurd said, "The main objective of the Astana Group is to protect and perpetuate the interests of Russia, Turkey and Iran."

Çiya Kurd pointed out that the Astana meetings "are always held in the absence of Syrians, so the results of the Astana meetings did not serve Syrians at all. The people gathered in Astana are the most beneficiaries of these meetings. Astana has caused the displacement of Syrians, deepening the crisis and expanding the occupation. These meetings have become a starting point for targeting other areas and occupying it by Turkey. The results of Astana meeting do not serve stability and a solution in Syria."

It is not possible to find a solution from the occupiers' policies

Çiya Kurd pointed out that the Turkish state is the biggest obstacle to finding a solution to the Syrian crisis, and continued, "The Turkish state is occupying an important part of Syria and has displaced a large part of the Syrian people. In the occupied areas such as Afrin, it is committing war crimes. Turkey is entrenching its regime there from administrative, cultural and other points of view. How can a political solution be developed with these practices? This indicates that it is not possible to find a solution from these policies."

They justify the Turkish occupation

Çiya Kurd explained, "The results of Astana meeting will produce agreements on Idlib, with the aim of preserving and perpetuating the status quo. This means defending the occupation and perpetuating the current status. The Turkish state is dividing Syria. In the occupied areas, Turkey follows a policy based on annexation of these areas, and this is a major obstacle to the solution."

Çiya Kurd continued, "Then they accuse the Autonomous Administration of attempts to separate, and (Russia, Turkey and Iran) claim that they are against separation attempts. Everyone knows that the Autonomous Administration project is not a separatist project. Unfortunately, the Autonomous Administration is always referred to in the Astana meetings as trying to separate from Syria. With this, they are giving Turkey the right to occupy and exterminate the Kurdish people. This is a great danger."

Russia's duality

Çiya Kurd indicated the Russian calls to start a dialogue between the Autonomous Administration and Damascus, "and we, in the Autonomous Administration, expressed our readiness for dialogue. We positively evaluated the Russian position, but once again we saw that the Astana meeting accuses the Autonomous Administration of separation attempts. They show the Autonomous Administration that it is not a legitimate administration and they call for the return of all areas to the Damascus government control. This policy cannot serve the Syrian people."

Russia, Turkey and Iran share common visions and seek to sustain blockade

During Astana 16th, there was talk about the need to deliver aid to all Syrians without discrimination, which Çiya Kurd described as duplicity, "They seek to link the passage of aid to the Damascus government. Everyone knows that the Damascus government does not stand at an equal distance from all Syrians. In this way, it has become the cause of deep contradictions within Syria. Once again, Russia showed its hostile stance and refused to open the Tal Kocher crossing. These are unfair approaches. How can aid be prevented from being delivered to an area where 5 million people, more than a million displaced people and refugees live? With regard to besieging the region, Russia, Turkey and Iran share common visions and seek to sustain the blockade."

We will never accept or support these decisions

According to the final statement of Astana 16th, the three countries claimed that they will continue to fight ISIS, Hayet Tahrir al-Sham and all figures associated with Al-Qaeda which is classified as an international terrorist.

In this regard, Çiya Kurd said, "With the support of Turkey, Jabhet al-Nusra and extremist groups control about 80 percent of Idlib. We have documents that include lists of hundreds of ISIS mercenaries involved in the so-called opposition in Serêkaniyê, Tel Abyad and Afrin. Why do not they fight those groups? If these results do not change and the Syrians do not join, Astana cannot play the role of the solution. We will not accept or support these decisions at all."

Everyone should be vigilant

Çiya Kurd pointed to the sensitivity of the current stage, and called on everyone to be vigilant. "The Turkish state is ready to attack if it succeeds in obtaining a signal from some parties, such as Russia and America. This danger is always present. The United States, Russia and NATO countries should not support Turkish policies and should not allow again the implementation of extermination policy against the peoples of the region. In the next stage, everyone must be careful and vigilant."

Support alone is not enough to ensure the complete eradication of ISIS

Çiya Kurd noted that the occupation of Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî caused the re-emergence of ISIS mercenaries in the areas of Deir Ezzor and Hol camp. This constitutes a great danger that threatens everyone. The member states of the international coalition against ISIS are committed to partnering with the Syrian Democratic Forces in the struggle against terrorism; however, we say that this military support is not sufficient to guarantee the complete defeat of ISIS. These military victories must be turned into political gains in order to ensure stability for the Autonomous Administration and the region. What we ask from the European state and the international coalition is to provide support for the Autonomous Administration."

There is progress in relations and negotiations

Çiya Kurd noted the need to continue the diplomatic struggle so that the next stage would be the stage of recognition of the Autonomous Administration, "Significant developments have been made in this field, as relations with the Autonomous Administration are developing at high levels and in various political, economic and humanitarian fields. America says that it will continue its cooperation with the administration. We will continue our struggle to define and highlight the Autonomous Administration. The Autonomous Administration project can become a model for a political solution in Syria, and for this we continue to work in Europe, the Middle East, America and Russia and develop relations with them. Attitudes are positive in this regard. The important thing is to continue escalating struggle and strengthening organization."

Solution cannot be achieved without the Syrian people's participation in the dialogue

Vice Co-chairmanship of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Badran Çiya Kurd, said that they had held many meetings, some of which were at the invitation of the countries themselves, and some at the invitation of the Autonomous Administration, and he said in this regard, "There were common points of understanding during the talks, including the struggle against ISIS, the political stability of the Autonomous Administration and its areas, and that a lasting and democratic solution to the crisis in Syria cannot be achieved unless all the Syrian people participate in the stage of dialogue and negotiations."

ANHA