Syrian Kurds Say Turkey Seeks To Occupy Kurdish Lands After US Troop Withdrawal

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st December, 2018) Turkey is intending to occupy the lands of the Syrian Kurdistan after the US initiative to withdraw troops is implemented, a representative of the Kurds in Moscow, Rshad Bienaf, told Sputnik.

"Our system [of governance] over the seven years of its existence has shown its efficiency. However, [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan considers this system dangerous for himself ... What is happening in Idlib, Afrin, from Azaz to Jerablus shows the role played by Turkey in the Syrian conflict. Turkey is the cause of the division of Syria. Therefore, if Turkey receives a 'green light' from everyone it needs, it will attack us. It is preparing to repeat the Afrin scenario on the border," Bienaf said.

He noted that the plans of Turkey "ran contrary to the idea of the territorial integrity of Syria, which the Kurds advocate, but everybody turns a blind eye on it.

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According to Bienaf, Syrian Kurds do not want to gain independence, but hope for a constitutional reform and democratic rule in the united and sovereign Syria.

"We want to remain in a single state, but without former influence of the Baath party. There should not be such a situation when some cities live under democratic self-government, while neighboring ones live under an authoritarian regime," Bienaf said.

The representative added that Kurds were ready to resume dialogue with the Syrian authorities.

"We had meetings with the official government of Syria. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful, because Damascus is not ready to make changes to the constitution, to recognize the Kurds. Not ready for some compromises. Therefore, all our attempts at a dialogue were unsuccessful," Bienaf concluded.