Intense contact between Turkey, Syria and Iraq: Ocalan delays his call to lay down arms unless DSG-Damascus reconcile

Turkey has stepped up its contacts with Iraq and Syria to demand that the PKK disarm and the PYD/DSG in Syria hand over its weapons to the Damascus administration. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks with Iraqi officials in Baghdad and demanded that the PKK be recognized as a “terrorist organization” in Iraq and that the PYD/DSG disarm in Syria. Iraqi officials said they have a common understanding with Turkey on Syria and are in contact with the Damascus administration. Fidan proposed a coalition of Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Jordan and Turkey and called for cooperation to fight ISIS and the PKK.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Kalın, the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), visited Damascus and met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Shara and other officials. They discussed the situation in Northeast Syria and the future of the PYD/DSG. Damascus presented a proposal to the DSG that includes the recognition of Kurdish rights and empowerment in local governments, but the DSG rejected it. Iraqi President Abdullatif Rashid stated that mediation efforts have not yielded positive results so far.

Turkey has been trying to strengthen its cooperation with Iraq and Syria to stabilize the region and neutralize terrorist organizations, but no agreement has yet been reached between the PYD/DSG and the Damascus administration.

DSG demands

According to the same sources, the DSG rejected the offer and insisted on its own conditions. According to the claim, the DSG’s proposals were listed under the following headings:

– Joining the Syrian army as an integrated unit,

– Maintaining existing military deployment areas,

– A share of the revenues from oil fields and wells.

The DSG justifies these positions and conditions with concerns about Turkish operations and the lack of integration of the different factions into the Syrian Defense Ministry.

Damascus rejected

The Syrian government rejected the proposals of the Syrian Democratic Forces (DSG) during talks with the Syrian Democratic Forces (DSG). Damascus stated that it would not accept the DSG as an autonomous unit within the army and did not want to use its oil resources as a political bargaining tool. Although the Erbil-based Kurdish administration has expressed its willingness to mediate between the DSG and Damascus, Damascus is wary of a deal with the DSG that would imply political equality. A new meeting between DSG leader Mazlum Abdi and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shara is a possibility, but a date has not yet been set.

Kurds in northeastern Syria have met with Kurdish organizations in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, as well as in Europe and the United States to express support for a political solution. Several Kurdish organizations are working for “inter-Kurdish unity” in Syria, demanding a Kurdish autonomous administration. Massoud Barzani, former President of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, expressed support for the Kurds in northeastern Syria, saying they could provide military assistance in the event of persecution.

As for the talks on the PKK’s laying down its arms, Abdullah Öcalan will not make a call until an agreement is reached in Northeast Syria (Rojava). Roj Girasun, Coordinator of Rawest Research Center, pointed out the importance of a de facto autonomy in Rojava and said that Öcalan will not make a call without this. Girasun emphasized that the Kurds’ achievement of an autonomous structure in Rojava is critical for the resolution process to gain legitimacy. The process aims to recognize the political rights of Kurds and ensure stability in the region.