European lawmaker voices concern over European silence on Kobane siege

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ozlem Demirel, a Kurdish member of the European Parliament from the German left party, has voiced concern over what she described as the continued silence of European decision-making institutions regarding the ongoing siege on the Kurdish town of Kobane in northern Syria, despite the adoption of a new European Parliament resolution on Syria.

In remarks to Rudaw on Tuesday, Demirel said the European Parliament recently passed a resolution addressing developments in Syria and the autonomous Kurdish-led region of northeast Syria (Rojava). “Unfortunately, since the beginning of January, we have seen that the Kurds of Rojava, especially in Kobane, are still under siege,” she said.

Her comments come amid growing humanitarian concerns in Kobane. The Kurdish Red Crescent warned on Tuesday that the besieged town could run out of medicines within days, with baby formula already depleted. “The stores will run out of medicines in three days,” said Shadya Ahmed, head of the organization’s mobile teams in Kobane, adding that the shortage has created a “massive crisis.”

Despite a January 29 agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus aimed at halting fighting and outlining steps toward integration, the siege on Kobane remains in place. Humanitarian groups report shortages of medicine for chronic illnesses and a rise in disease among displaced children sheltering in schools and mosques.

Last week, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a resolution calling for stability in northeastern Syria, protections for Syrian minorities - including Kurdish rights guarantees - and increasing international efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS.)

Over 360 members approved the resolution, with 71 voting against and 81 abstaining.

The resolution reinforced conditions for future European Union aid for Syria following last month’s EU pledge providing the new Syrian government with 620 million euros ($722 million) in post-war recovery funding.

While acknowledging that factions within the parliament hold differing views on Syria, Demirel stressed that the resolution’s recognition of Syria as a multi-ethnic state was a central and positive point.

“The European Parliament passed a resolution, and I explained in my speech to the Parliament that there is legitimate concern regarding developments in Syria,” Demirel said.

Demirel described the European Parliament resolution as an “important step,” but warned it was insufficient on its own. “A resolution by the European Parliament does not yet mean that member states will take a clear stand,” she said. “The first step must be ending the siege on Kobane and delivering humanitarian aid.”

“What is included in the content of this resolution - and what is of particular importance to us on the Left - is that Syria is a multi-ethnic state.”

Demirel criticized the Syrian interim government for failing to represent Syria’s ethnic and religious diversity, arguing that, “unfortunately, since the beginning of January, we have seen that the Kurds of Rojava, especially in Kobane, are still under siege.”

She also directed criticism at Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, saying that during her recent visit to Syria she “promised millions of dollars in aid, yet did not say a single word regarding the situation of the Kurds, Alawites, and Druze.”

According to Demirel, European institutions and member states have so far failed to take a clear position. “The reality is that European institutions and member states have been silent until now,” she said, adding that the European Union must not ignore the issue for geopolitical reasons.