Syrian Kurds should participate in drafting new constitution: UN special envoy

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The United Nations special envoy for Syria on Tuesday said Syrian Kurds should be allowed to contribute to a new constitution in the country.

In an interview with Russia’s RIA news agency, UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Kurdish representatives in the country should be allowed to participate in the initial drafting of a constitution.

According to Reuters, the UN has hosted a couple of “technical talks on a future constitution with various Syrian opposition groups” in recent weeks.

The Syrian government has not yet responded to de Mistura’s comments about the Syrian Kurds’ role in preparing a new constitution.

It is highly likely Ankara will react negatively to the UN special envoy’s remarks as it labels Kurdish groups fighting in Syria “terrorists.”

The Turkish government claims the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) leading the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria are an affiliate of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The PKK, who are waging a decades-long guerrilla warfare against Turkish troops over government repression of Kurdish rights, is considered a “terrorist group” by Turkey.

Although the United States shares the same views regarding the PKK, it does not agree that the YPG are terrorists.

Washington considers the Kurdish troops as the main force on the ground helping them defeat IS as they provide training and air support.

Moreover, the US has recently delivered weapons and military equipment directly to the YPG as they continue to battle the militant group in Syria.

Editing by G.H. Renaud