An important agreement was signed yesterday between Mazloum Abdi, the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Ahmed al-Shara, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was announced as the head of state of the transitional team in Syria. With the agreement, it was decided to guarantee al constitutional rights of Kurds. It was also agreed that the attacks against different peoples and beliefs would end. 

 

Democratic Union Party (PYD) Foreign Relations Spokesperson Salih Muslim answered questions of Fırat News Agency (ANF) about the agreement.

 

* An agreement was signed between SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Shara. What is your first comment on this agreement?

 

This agreement was agreed upon a few days ago at a joint meeting of the Autonomous Administration and the SDF. It was agreed that these committees would be formed and that there would be an agreement of 7-8 articles. Committees will be formed and the details will be discussed between those committees. We will discuss the articles one by one. 

 

* Can we say that the Rojava Revolution has been riveted with this agreement? Can we say that Rojava has gained status, at least in a regional sense?

 

Yes, we can say it has been riveted. We have fought so much and struggle so much. As a result, we can say that we are now partners in everything of this state. We are partners in its administration, constitution, life, economy, everything.

 

* The first article states "Ensuring the rights of all Syrians to representation and participation in the political process and all state institutions based on competence, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds". This was actually a project aiming at the coexistence of all social groups in Rojava. Will this project be applied to the whole of Syria or was it only discussed for Rojava?

 

No, it will be implemented not only for the Autonomous Administration, but for all of Syria. Details will be discussed, but this is for the whole of Syria. 

 

* The second article is also important: "Recognizing the Kurdish component as an integral part of the Syrian state and guaranteeing its citizenship rights and all constitutional entitlements." In Syria, Kurds did not even have an identity, they were not even considered citizens. How do you evaluate this article?

 

There were some old laws, they will be corrected. In other words, Kurds will obtain all their equal citizenship rights.

 

* Another item is a ceasefire in the entire Syrian territory. However, the attacks against Rojava continue. There are attacks by the Turkish state and affiliated groups. Will a common stance be taken against these attacks?  

 

These conflicts and the actions of the gangs will be illegal. We will resist these attacks together. No one can say that they are a force of the state. Because they are gangs and they are illegal. If the gangs continue their attacks, it requires fighting together.  

 

* What would you say about the article "Integration of all civil and military institutions of NE Syria into the administration of the Syrian state, including border crossings, airports, and oil and gas fields"?

 

We will manage the gates on our borders, such as Nusaybin and Till Kocher, together. We will decide together on the distribution and management of the revenues coming from these places. So this will depend on laws and agreements. These will be detailed in the agreements.   

 

* Another article is to ensure that all displaced Syrians return to their towns and villages and that they are protected by the Syrian state. Afrin, Gire Spi and Serekaniye are the first places that come to mind. What is the plan for these regions? What do we understand from this agreement? 

 

Everyone will be allowed to return to their own places. Some people's homes have been confiscated and settled by outsiders. These people will return to their old places. In a sense, it means liberation of these areas from Turkish occupation.  

 

* What does it mean to “support the Syrian state's struggle against all threats to its security and territorial integrity"?

 

We will be together. The remnants of the Baath regime will not find a place. In other words, they will not take advantage of our places and fight against the regime.  

 

* The seventh article includes the rejection of calls to create division between all components of Syrian society, hate speech and attempts to spread discord. In this sense, the Turkish state was imposing monism through HTS. Can we say that this pressure has failed with this agreement? 

 

Syria's citizens will be considered equal regardless of religion or race. For example, no one will be able to say 'I do not accept Yazidis'. Or force them to convert to Islam. With a great democratic government, everyone will live as they wish. In this sense, it is a great achievement. It is a great gain for Alawites, Druze, Yazidis and Christians.  

 

* Will the executive committees ensure that the agreement is implemented by the end of the year at the latest? Does this also refer to the drafting of the constitution? Or only the practical activities here will be implemented? Will the constitution be drafted in the longer term?  

 

There will be a committee for each of these 8 articles. The armed forces will have a committee. It will discuss how the armed forces will participate. An agreement will be reached, and then there will be a discussion on how the governance will be. These committees will reach this agreement within a year. This may include a constitution, it may include an interim constitution. Then this interim constitution will be subject to a referendum.  

 

* What does this agreement mean on an international scale? The international support for the current interim administration is known. We see that especially western powers played an important role in the establishment of the new Syria.   

 

International powers have been mediators. Both our administration and the Syrian administration had mediators. This means that these mediators have approved and everyone will play their part here. So we are officially a partner of this state.  

 

* So do we understand from this that the international powers are also involved in this text or that they are on one side of this agreement? 

 

In everything; we are partners in the affairs of this state, both inside and outside.  

 

* A much discussed issue in connection with this issue was the letter sent by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan to Rojava. What he said in that letter, whether he had any discourse on disarmament or not, is being discussed a lot. It was claimed, especially by the AKP media, that he called for the disarmament of the SDF and YPG. Did this agreement respond to this propaganda?

 

That letter came to the administration. As far as I know, that letter shows that we are on the right track. That is, to be a part of Syria, to be together, to make peace. In other words, we are not outside of what was said in that letter. In other words, we have not gone beyond the points stated by the Leader.

 

* Have you read the letter?

 

The content of the letter was conveyed to me, I heard what was in the letter. In principle, we accept making peace and being a part of this state. Of course, we will take our place in this state on condition that we protect our rights and originalities. This is what we have been saying from the beginning, so we are not out of this. Now you are talking about the partisan media. The partisan media will see this agreement made today as 'surrender' or will make propaganda like that. However, the reality is not like that. Reaching such an agreement is a great gain for us. I wish there was something like this in Bakurê (North) Kurdistan, it would be very good.

 

* In the letter regarding Rojava, is there any mention of disarmament or stepping back from your self-defence?

 

No, there is nothing like that. Absolutely nothing like that. 

 

* Can we say that this agreement text is in line with the perspective that Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan envisaged regarding Rojava?

 

We are a part of Syria. We want to live together. We want to protect our own originality. All of these are included in this agreement text.