Syrian Kurds support Kurdistan Region against neighbors' threats

PYD Co-chair

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan (Kurdistan 24) – The ruling party of Syria’s Kurdish areas, known as Rojava, on Thursday expressed solidarity with Kurdistan Region against the neighbor's threats over the independence vote held last month.

In an exclusive interview with Kurdistan 24, Shahoz Hasan, the co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), said their party supports the will and freedom of the people in Kurdistan.

“We are against the threats of the regional powers, including Turkey, Iran and Syrian regime against the will of the Kurdish people,” he said.

Hasan added that the neighbors have been applying a chauvinistic mentality against the Kurds for a century.

“Their chauvinistic mentality makes them furious about Kurdish achievements in the middle east, especially in Rojava and Bashur [Kurdistan Region of Iraq/Southern Kurdistan],” he said.

“Threats and fights cannot resolve anything, but we should resort to dialogue, especially that we are in a critical situation and are fighting against terrorism,” he further explained.

Regarding the new border crossing that Turkey is proposing to open with Iraq through either Kurdistan Region or Rojava, Hasan said, “Turkey has been threatening Rojava and undermining our achievements on military, political, and administrative levels, so it is impossible to approach the topic of opening the border with the authorities.”  

Additionally, Hasan called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to cooperate with Rojava for protecting the Kurdish achievements in both countries.

“As two Kurdish regions in north Iraq and north Syria, we should cooperate to protect and save these achievements,” he said.

The new PYD co-chairs Shahoz Hasan and Aysha Hisso [L] are sitting with the previous co-chairs Asya Abdalla and Saleh Muslim [R] at the PYD 7th congress in Rmeilan town, Rojava, Syria, September 27, 2017. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
The new PYD co-chairs Shahoz Hasan and Aysha Hisso [L] are sitting with the previous co-chairs Asya Abdalla and Saleh Muslim [R] at the PYD 7th congress in Rmeilan town, Rojava, Syria, September 27, 2017. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Answering a question on reports about Russia’s intention to mediate negotiations between the YPG and the Syrian regime, Hasan said, “We always say that we are open for any fruitful negotiations addressing the Kurdish question in Syria.”

Concerning the tense relations between Syria’s Kurdish National Council (ENKS) and the PYD, Hasan said they cannot reach an agreement.

“Our position is clear as we are on our land and have established a democratic system, but the other parties that are still in Turkey realize that Turkey is threatening to attack Afrin and Kurdistan Region and is also supporting the Iraqi sanctions on Kurdistan,” he said.

Hasan further pointed out that the national interests should be prioritized over other matters.

“We accept our differences. The most important point is that we are calling on all sides to not sacrifice national interests for anything,” he said.

On Sep. 27, the PYD, formerly presided by both Saleh Muslim and Asya Abdullah, elected Shahoz Hasan and Aysha Hisso as the new PYD co-chairs.

 

Editing by Ava Homa