"Turkey should not fear federalism in Syria", says Former Turkish PM
He added, "If Syrians decide to establish an autonomous region, Turkey should not fear it. Major powers should not either. It is vital for Kurds to play a role in Syria's new administration."
Dec. 21, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Former Turkish Prime Minister and leader of the Future Party, Ahmet Davutoğlu, asserted that Turkey should not fear a federal system in Syria if the new Syrian administration chooses to apply it.
In an interview with a Turkish television channel, Davutoğlu said, "If inclusive representation is ensured in the new administration, a unified state in Syria can be achieved."
Speaking about the Kurdish regions in Syria, he highlighted that "Syrians must make decisions for themselves on the issue of federalism, whether to endorse or rebuke it."
He reflected on regional history and noted that, " Following the invasion of Iraq, the formation of a union became unavoidable. Since the time of Mullah Mustafa Barzani, there have been wars and tragedies like the Halabja massacre. However, there was no war between Kurds and Turks in Turkey. So why now?"
He added, "If Syrians decide to establish an autonomous region, Turkey should not fear it. Major powers should not either. It is vital for Kurds to play a role in Syria's new administration."
Davutoğlu called for a change in perspective, asserting, "There is a misunderstanding that all Kurds are associated with the People's Protection Units (YPG). Syrian Kurds must be recognized as a people with equal rights, just like other communities. Turkey must announce its opposition to any coercion against them."
He criticized certain factions in Turkey that see Kurds as a major threat, saying, "These observations must be dismissed and eliminated."
He questioned, "Why should I see Erbil as a threat, for instance?"
He added, "You cannot become a great state by promoting conflicts with everyone. Ankara must defend the Kurds before the United States does."
In a related context, Davutoğlu underscored the significance of including the Druze community in Syria's new government "before Israel exploits them," and called on Turkey to avoid sectarian discrimination between Alawites and Sunnis in Syria.
