Derar: Damascus silence and Arab inaction behind Turkish escalation

In the last few days there has been a notable military escalation against the North and East Syria by the Turkish occupation forces and the affiliated mercenary groups.

Aerial bombardment and drone reconnaissance and strikes are focused on Kobane, Ain Issa, Manbij and Shahba.

In an interview on the recent escalation by the Turkish occupation forces against the North and East Syria ANHA met Riyadh Derar Co-chair of Syria's Democratic Council, the SDC.

Derar said ''it is months that this escalation is observed and never stopped. Assassinations carried out by the drones continue. The idea is that go give an impression that Turkey is able to deter any project that opposes its aims in the region. And to send a message to the Turkish people that the country is engaged in battles and wars to distract the attention of the people amid the aggravating economic situation in the country''.

Derar said Turkey exploits the Russian and U.S. preoccupation with the war in Ukraine in different issues, '' Turkey seeks to impose its agendas in the region, '' indicating that the two sides; the Russians and the Americans, are ''in need of the Turkish role hereby both turn a blind eye its actions in the region''.  

Responding to a question on the coincidence of the recent military reaction and the project to settle a million Syrian refugees in Syrian territories occupied by Turkey and mercenary groups, Derar said he believes ''the recent military escalation is an attempt to displace the people of the region to be repacked by others. This is what we call the demographic change engineered in the region. This is the case in Afrin that to be re-enacted in areas close to Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad. '' 

Derar daid '' the demographic change is a goal sought by the Turkish regime to create the so-called safe zone on the border. In the actual reality it is going to be a zone for coming wars''.

Derar said ''what is taking place in Iraq is part of understandings reached with Kurds of the region. There is mutual interests in such warlike issues. Unfortunately, this neither serves the Kurdish question nor the Iraqi national one. This makes the region attached in a way or another to Turkey. However, this is could not be a real application of the Misak-i- Milli but it is one of its goals''.  

Regarding the reaction of the Syrian government towards the recent Turkish escalation against North and East Syria, Derar said ''this goes on. It is preoccupied with its hardships and the difficult living conditions in areas under its control. As a matter of fact, this appeases the Syrian government. If the region is weakened or subdued it may be reverted to the control of the Syrian government. This is sought by the regime. There even circulations of understandings between Damascus and Ankara especially by the intelligence series in both countries in the issues regarding refugees and what they call terror. There may have been understandings that justify this silence''.

On the role played by the Arab League Derar said'' there has been no role for the Arab League at all. it is absent from many Arab issues . it seems that the Arab League is in a state of sleep. It has no role at all as it should be''.

''after the Turkish occupation of Ras al-Ain there was an invitation. We attended a meeting with Arab Foreign Ministers to express an opinion against the Turkish threats against Syrian borders. There was an escalation at the time due to intense relations of some countries with Turkey. Due to understandings this is now less intense the matter that makes Turkey to behave with no opposing voice'', Derar said.  

Derar indicated that here have been diplomatic bids by the SDC to stop the Turkish escalation, and that the Council continuously dispatches objections, '' but SDC has no international recognition to be heard or responded to, as the Syrian state keeps silence and has no role either to express to the UN Security Council or via other means, this makes the situation more difficult. This could be done by influential powers that by no means we could press upon them''.   

Derar believes since Turkey is a strong powers and an influential one no power can intervene. It has cards by which it protect its interests that make other keep silence''.

Derar says the current situation in Syria indicates that the country heads towards partition due to the struggle that would lead to different administrations. But ''however this is not going to be at the expense of the unity of Syrian territories. All Syrian agree that Syrian  should remain a unified country and not part''.

L..A

ANHA