Sunday, September 18, 2016

Kurdish participation in the Syrian Peace Talks


 

The view from Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan:

From the article:

Russia stresses importance of including Syrian Kurds in Geneva peace talks - ARA News 
Kurds [who are the most effective fighting force opposing  the Islamic State and who have been excluded from the Geneva please talks] should be included in the intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Friday.
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“Some   members [of the ISSG] exert strong pressure, because they consider the PYD to be terrorists’ supporters or an unnecessary element, as Kurdish representatives from other political groups [Kurdish National Council] are taking part in the Geneva talks,” he said. 

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Although Russian-Turkish relations have drastically improved after the failed military coup on July 15, Russia did not change its stance towards the Syrian Kurdish forces that have been the most effective element against ISIS. 
According to Akhmetov, there are several reasons Russia is still supporting the Kurds despite of Moscow’s new relations with Turkey. 
“First to not lose their support completely, and secondly to not provoke them to make any reckless steps like announcing secession from Syria,” he said. 
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The United States has taken contradictory positions on the YPG's joining the peace talks.  It formally opposes participation, out of deference to Turkey; and it funds YPG's fighters is Syria, over fierce Turkish objection. 

Erdoğan's government does not currently deserve international recognition (see Turkey Formally Arrested 16,000 People In Wake Of Coup Attempt | Huffington PostTurkey plans to build dozens of new jails after post-coup crackdown - The Washington Post).  Saudi Arabia's dream of a Wahhabi state in Syria is a pipe dream -- to Syrians, it and to most people it is a nightmare. 


The United States should join Russia in supporting the YPG's inclusion in the Geneva peace talks.
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After many months of work and cooperation with many Kurds both inside and outside Syria, YASA, the Kurdish Center for Legal Studies & Consultancy, has created a map of Western Kurdistan.YASA Releases Syrian Kurdistan Map 'Western Kurdistan': First stage

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Syrian Kurdish fighters











War is bad -- except when it is fought by an oppressed people against a brutal oppressor. 

Then, whatever the cost, the human spirit sings at Heaven's gate.. . . .  While the joyous high lasts.

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