Moscow: Peace in Syria without Kurds impossible

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – It is impossible to solve the current situation in Syria and discuss the structure of future Syria without Kurdish participation, said a Russian official on Friday.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Gennady Gatilov, told reporters in Moscow that Kurds possess strong political and military weight in Syria.

He stated that it is impossible to speak of addressing Syria’s current problems and future structure without the participation of Kurds in peace dialogue.

This comes at a time that the ruling party of Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), Democratic Union Party (PYD) has not been invited to peace talks of Geneva (referred to as Geneva  III).

The international Syria Support Group (ISSG) that was co-chaired by the US and Russia will hold a meeting on May 19 in Vienna.

Gatilov also mentioned that Russia and its partner countries also believe that Kurdish participation in peace talks is extremely necessary, and they should be part of the decision-making for the future of Syria.

He explained to the reporters that in the coming peace meeting, Russia will discuss Kurdish inclusion in the peace talks.

Up to the moment, there have been three rounds of negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition, the first one was on January 25 and the latest one was on April 13.

The fourth upcoming round is expected to be on May 17.

“Kerry told reporters in London he expected U.N.-brokered talks involving the opposing Syrian parties to take place 'some days after' the May 17 meeting in Vienna of the International Syria Support Group,” Reuters reported on Tuesday.

It is worth mentioning that up to the moment, Syrian-Kurds are not represented in Geneva talks  as an independent group, but they are melted in the Syrian Government and opposition delegations.

They are fractured into three main groups: Damascus-based Syrian Kurds' National Initiative (SKNI) within the Syrian Government’s negotiating body, ENKS belonging to the Syrian opposition, and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), who are excluded from the negotiations.

Reporting by Hisham Arafat and Mewan Dolamari

Editing by Ava Homa