By: Matthiew Margala
December 8, 2020
The Washington Kurdish Institute interviewed Dr. Azad Dewanee about the recent development in Syrian including the possibility of a new Turkish invasion, Russia’s role, and the US policies toward the Kurds.
Interview excerpt:
Do you believe that there could be another Turkish offensive against the autonomous administration in the near future, especially when considering the upcoming change in administration in the United States?
This could happen during the Christmas and New Year holidays, and this is what Turkey and its jihadist gangs try to do, depending on the potential inaction of the Trump administration. If Russia collaborates with Turkey for a new invasion, which would not only target the existence of Kurds and Christians in Northern Syria, but also the existence of the US and its allies in Northeast Syria. And I think Russia might possibly do this for some reasons. I can highlight three of them. First, forcing Syrian Kurds to accept the conditions of the Syrian regime. Second weakening the Kurdish-led SDF would mean undermining the US position in Syria, and three, creating a rift between Turkey and NATO. And they did this in Afrin, but were not successful in creating such a rift as the US and NATO turned a blind eye to the plight of Kurds there.
Given the negotiations between ENKS and the PYD/Democratic Union party, could there be Kurdish inclusion in the Geneva constitutional committee in the future?
Yes, this is possible, but only when the main sponsor of these negotiations stops appeasing the Turkish regime, which doesn’t accept any substantive Kurdish role in the future of Syria. The Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria is excluded all the time from these negotiations. And this is because of the lobby of Turkey.
Do you believe that there’s any possibility of Turkey negotiating with the autonomous administration directly?
I would say, first of all, ironically, that the Turkish regime uses the propaganda terms of terrorist and terror against Syrian Kurds. Although Syrian Kurds are actually resisting and suffering from the designated jihadist terrorism that Turkey sponsors, and the Syrian Kurds are on the front line of the international campaign against ISIL. However, the Turkish regime might accept to negotiate with the Autonomous Administration when this administration gets the political support or recognition of one of the main players, including the US or other Western allies or even Russia. Otherwise the Turkish regime will carry on its antagonistic position against any Kurdish-led autonomy in Syria.
How should Syrian Kurds approach the issues of the occupied Afrin, Serekaniye, and Tal Abyad regions and the ongoing abuses against the local populations there?
These were part of the Autonomous Administration of Rojava and Northeast Syria. And now they are under the occupation of Turkey and its jihadist gangs. Turkey and its jihadist gangs have no legitimacy whatsoever in these territories. And they are also responsible for systemic and heinous war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated for the purpose of ethnic cleansing of Kurds and other religious minorities. Unfortunately, the Autonomous Administration of Rojava/Northeast Syria is not given the proper diplomatic platform on the international stage to reveal these crimes. However, Kurds and human rights defenders can work together to document and talk about these crimes and demand bringing the perpetrators to justice.
With regards to international legitimacy, should Syrian Kurds put their faith in the Geneva Constitutional Committee and continue to try to gain seats at that table, or should they attempt to negotiate more with Russia who is now the main power on the ground in Syria?
I would say Kurds should not put their faith anywhere, but to adopt an approach close to realpolitik. There’s a Kurdish saying; “No friends but the mountains”. However Kurds are supposed to practice realpolitik with main players. I don’t think that Geneva will bring any concrete change. I also do not trust Russia’s position, that it currently invests in the weakening of the US in Syria and uses Turkey to terrorize Kurds. However, when it comes to potential Turkish jihadist invasions and massacres against Kurds and Christians in Northern Syria, there is almost no space to think about such differences. And Kurds will need to ally with the party that is able to prevent such an invasion.