The civil war that broke out in Syria in 2011 evolved into a different process after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the Assad regime in November 2024. While Ahmad al-Shara declared himself as the president ot the transitional government, the attacks against different peoples and beliefs, especially Alawites, did not end. The calls made by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria for a transitional period have not yet found a response. In addition, the Druze established the Suwayda Military Council with the demand for autonomy. 

 

Ahmad al-Shara administration held a "National Dialogue Congress" in Damascus yesterday. Representatives of the Autonomous Administration were not represented at the congress on "the future of the country". Again, Druze and many groups from different faiths were not invited to the congress. The Autonomous Administration pointed out that the congress did not represent the Syrian people.

 

Democratic Union Party (PYD) Presidential Council member Salih Muslim evaluated the developments in Syria.

 

Pointing out that a system in which all beliefs and peoples are represented in North and East Syria was built, Salih Muslim said, "This system of ours wan not liked by many nation states. The Baas regime stood against it. We tried to explain this system to them, but they did not accept it and were destroyed. They did not accept the existence of Kurds. The regime collapsed and a new regime came. Those in this regime are composed of jihadist groups. The remnants of groups such as al-Nusra and ISIS, which fought with us before, gathered in the places occupied by Turkey and the groups it supports. They seized the administration in Damascus. These groups made promises to some international states and claimed that they would democratise."

 

Pointign out that the attacks against the Autonomous Adminsitration regions did not stop even after the overthrow of the Assad regime, Salih Muslim said, "They cannot digest what is happening in North and East Syria. Some groups, which they call the Syrian National Army, attacked the Autonomous Administration regions. The clashes have not stopped yet. Turkey is involved in these attacks. Attacks are still continuing at the Tishreen Dam and Qara qozak Bridge. They are trying to cross to the east bank of the Euphrates. This is dangerous for Kobani."

 

'OIL SUPPLY IS NOTHING NEW'

 

Salih Muslim said that while standing against the attacks, they are also keeping the channels of dialogue open. Noting that oil has recently started to be supplied to Damascus from northern and eastern Syria, Salih Muslim said, "Since 2011, we have defended ourselves and said that we are part of Syria. We said whoever is in Damascus, we will reach an agreement with them. This has continued since the former regime. We had some negotiations with the former regime. Especially about the sale of oil products. Recently this was interrupted. Now an agreement has been reached again and they continue to be sent. There is nothing new. The old one continues. Oil belongs to all Syrian people. This develpment is not a new situation, but it is a positive development."

 

Stressing that they did not receive an invitation for the "National Dialogue Congress" in Damascus, Salih Muslim said, "They did not invite anyone. Among those who went to Damascus are the remnants of groups that fought with us before, such as ISIS and al-Nusra. HTS invited people with whom it has relations and witnesses. Representatives of political parties representing the peoples were not invited. They say 'we don't invite politicians' but this is not the case, it is an excuse. the Syrian Democratic Forces is a military formatiion, but there are many institutions and organizatios here. If you readically exclude the Autonomous Administration, then you are not doing the right thing. You may have a sensitivity towards Kurds, but why weren't the Arabs and Assyrians living here invited? They say 'dialogue process that includes everyone', but their practices are far from that.” 

 

'WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH SUWAYDA'

 

Referring to their dialogue with the Suwayda Military Council, Salih Muslim said, "Democratization and self-governance is a matter of mentality. It is necessary to believe in radical democracy. We have succeeded in changing this menatlity wherever we can reach. Peoples have shown the will to live together. Everyone lives democratically with their own language and beliefs for self-governance. This mentality has also affected other sectors. Suweyda is one of them. We have had relations since 2012. So they have been affected. Everyone says that the administration we are implementing now is suitable for all of Syria. In Suwayda, people have come together in the framework of self-defense. This is their right. Alawites and other groups will also be affected by this change in mentality. We are in solidarity with Suwayda. We hope that similar formations will emerge in other places within the framework of self-defense."

 

STATEMENT EXPECTED FROM ÖCALAN

 

Pointing out that all factions in Syria are acting only in line with their own interests, Salih Muslim said, "Our expectation is that neither Israel nor Turkey will intervene. If these powers do not interfere in Syria's internal affairs, Syrians can reach an agreement among themselves and secure their future. Those who want to intervene from outside should respect this will and stand by democracy. This is essential for the democratization of Syria."

 

Pointing out that the statement expected to be made by PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan will affect the developments in the region, Salih Muslim added, "Turkey associates us with the PKK and sees us as enemies. If Mr Öcalan makes a call, Turkey's view of us will be affected. There are millions of Kurds. All of them have respect for Mr Öcalan. He will make a call for the good of the peoples. I hope this call will reduce Turkey's intervention in Syria's internal affairs. With this call, a new process will start in the Middle East. The eyes and ears of the peoples are on the words that will come out of Mr Öcalan's two lips. We do not know what Mr Öcalan will say, but we are sure that he will say something for the benefit of the peoples. The Kurdish people will follow whatever he says. Whatever we have done so far, we have done within the framework of Mr Öcalan's paradigm and we have achieved results. We will continue to do so from now on."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar