Turkish diplomat calls for full implementation of SDF-Damascus deal

Rudaw

NEW YORK - Turkey’s ambassador to the United Nations said Friday the agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government should be fully implemented, stressing the need for a “unified system” in Syria.

“There is no place for dual structures in a unified Syria, and then this deal between SDF and Syrian government should be implemented fully, and all structures should be integrated in a unified system,” Turkey’s permanent representative to the UN, Ahmet Yildiz, told Rudaw.

The comments come against the backdrop of a landmark January 29 agreement between the SDF and Damascus, reached after weeks of clashes and brokered with mediation by the United States through Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, alongside Kurdish political figures from the Kurdistan Region.

The deal followed a sharp escalation in mid-January, when Syrian government forces and allied armed groups captured areas previously controlled by the SDF in eastern Aleppo, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasaka provinces.

Yildiz said Turkey is “closely coordinating with Syrian leadership and authorities in a good way,” adding that there is “a lot to do” in Syria regarding regional connectivity and economic recovery.

China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, also told Rudaw the Syrian government should treat the issue of Kurdish language “with care” and called for “an inclusive dialogue.” China holds the presidency of the UN Security Council this month and on Friday hosted a meeting with Syrian representatives.

 

“Member states are still very concerned about the situation in Syria, and in terms of the inclusive dialogue, political dialogue, and process inside the country, and also on the issue of counterterrorism,” Cong said.

Authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava) recently handed over the Justice Palace in Hasaka to state officials as part of the integration process. However, the interim government removed a signboard that included Kurdish and replaced it with one in Arabic and English, sparking protests. Kurds later removed the new signboard, and when another was installed in Arabic only, it was also taken down.

Kurds gathered outside the Justice Palace for several consecutive days, demanding that Kurdish be included alongside Arabic on the building’s signage.

“We call for an inclusive dialogue that actually each country has its own different situations, so I think this issue should be treated with care, and we do hope that a solution could be found that is acceptable to all factions and all people there,” he said.