Excerpts of an Interview with Ilham Ehmed on RT Arabic about ongoing talks between SDC (Syrian Democratic Council) and Syrian government and potential negotiations for reconciliation 03-August-2018
Transcript:RT presenter – So, the proposition you’ve offered is:
Preservation of the self-administration; self-rule, which has been established in the past period...
and to build upon that for a self-administration for this region…
But what was the response the government’s side to what you have proposed?
Ilham Ahmad – We didn’t sense a great opposition to this path. But that will have to seen in the coming days, and during the conversations that will begin: the level of seriousness of the regime in finding a basic solution, and resolve all the existing problems and issues in a lawful manner, for the Syrian people and all its components.
The level of seriousness will be revealed by the work of the committees in the future.
I can’t assert that there was agreement or that they agreed to this model.
But everything is left to be discussed within the committees that will be formed in the coming days.
RT presenter – There were some who demanded guarantees or international guarantors for any negotiation between you and the Syrian government.
Have you reached an agreement to include any international guarantor?
Ilham Ahmad – Until now, we haven’t received any requests [from any side] to be a guarantor for these negotiations between us and the government in Damascus.
But any potential suggestion or request, has to be agreed on by both sides.
RT presenter – Some sources have said that the government rejected the demand for decentralization in administrating the region. And has offered instead ministries and leadership roles in the northern region within the defense ministry.
Do you confirm that information?
– There hasn’t been any conversations on that matter; the offering of ministries in these regions or the rejection of decentralization… there hasn’t been any conversations on that matter. The conversation was rather about the self-administration, and in what ways this administration can be part of the governing system in Syria.
RT presenter – What about the future of the SDF? Was there talk about how to merge it with the Syrian army?
Ilham Ahmad – The security issue is not on the table of negotiations at this moment; taking into account the current situation in the region. There is SDF and there are security forces in the region.
This matter requires a decisive resolution for the Syrian crisis. Meaning: it requires an agreement by all sides… with the Damascus government, on the governing system, and on the items that will be on the table and agreements on them. Then, these fores can become part of the Syrian defense system in a future Syria.
But initially this matter is not on the table.
RT presenter – According to your expectations for the form of the self-administration, which you strive to establish within a decentralized system in Syria, what will be attributions and the form of this self-admin for self-rule? And how do you, SDC, expect the relation of this administration with the central government will be?
Ilham Ahmad – We consider a decentralized Syria will be the correct solution to save Syria from the crisis, the catastrophe it suffers from.
The centralized system is the reason for the emergence of this crisis;
putting all responsibilities on the government in a centralized manner, creates many complications and problems that marginalizes the cities, countrysides, components and ethnicities… marginalizes them within the Syrian society and the governing system.
Thus, if we want to resolve these issues comprehensively, a decentralized system must be implemented. So that all parts… meaning the cities; the regions –if we were to use the “regions” term, or “districts”… meaning: within this framework, all the parts can take their responsibilities towards the government, and their responsibilities in the regions they exist in.
Therefore, the relation between the self-admin and the central government will be determined by law; constitutional laws to determine the relation, in a way that responsibilities are mutually and reciprocally divided.
RT presenter – Give me a clear answer, Ms Ilham, I want a clear answer from you. Handing over Raqqa or Hasaka is not on the table; meaning handing over any region doesn’t exist in your dictionary.
Ilham Ahmad – Of course, it’s not on the table.
RT presenter – Not even the regions with oil, over which there was talk about returning them to the state?
Ilham Ahmad – Not even those regions; the matter of handing over regions is not included in the negotiations. Rather, each matter that will be discussed must be agreed upon and drafted by both sides.
RT presenter – Will the SDF accept partnering with the Syrian army in fighting terrorism in the Northern regions?
As you know, Idlib is still… as president Bashar al-Assad has said that he is going to fight terrorism in that region.
Is it possible that the SDF will partner with the Syrian army in fighting terrorism in that region?
Ilham Ahmad – There is a large area under the occupation of Turkey, in addition to the existence of terrorist groups in Idlib currently.
And large numbers of IDPs from Idlib, Afrin and other areas are currently in the regions east of the Euphrates.
And I think the residents of those regions have the right to defend their region, cities and properties… within a defensive campaign to liberate their regions. Whether they are residents of Afrin, Idlib or other areas.
So, within such an arrangement, the SDF could take part.
RT presenter – The areas of “Euphrates Shield” and “Olive Branch;” the operations that Turkey conducted, in addition to Idlib governorate, these three areas are currently outside the control of the Syrian government.
Are you prepared to take part in liberating them now?
Ilham Ahmad – The Idlib issue is one to be discussed. And Afrin is on the list of priorities that requires liberating now.
Fighting terrorism is a top priority. The factions in Afrin are terrorist groups. Those areas require liberating from those terrorist groups. And the residents of those areas have the right to organize themselves within certain frames,
RT presenter – Do you count on the Americans staying in the [Manbij] region, or will the US withdraw?
Ilham Ahmad – Until now the American forces and the coalition haven’t given any indication that they will withdraw. But in the end, we rely on ourselves to defend those areas. And we will assist the residents of Manbij in defending themselves if necessary.
But the Manbij Military Council is the entity most entitled in defending the city, and the Manbij residents are the most entitled in administrating it.
RT presenter – What is expected from Russia in this period?
Ilham Ahmad – Russia is expected to have a positive role in settling the unresolved issues, especially the Afrin issue; it is really a thorny issue. There are currently thousands of Afrin residents who are homeless, who have become displaced in Shaba'a, Aleppo countryside.
This issue requires resolving quickly.
And resolving it is by removing the Turkish forces from that region, so that it doesn’t become another Alexandretta.
And because the residents of that region do not accept the groups that exist there, and the human rights violations they commit.
The removal of those forces and liberation of the area and returning it to it’s original owners is required.
In addition, Russia can play a positive role in the Syrian issue and proposing a political solution, and engage with the Syrian government in finding a comprehensive solution for the Syrian crisis.
RT presenter – Some say that you approached Damascus due to American pressure. How would you describe that to us? Was there coordination with the U.S. to approach Damascus in order to seek a resolution for the region’s future?
Ilham Ahmad – We are of course partners in fighting terrorism in these regions, but in the political domain and negotiations, the decision is up to us.
And what is up to the American side is to support this decision, considering such a decision leads to a comprehensive solution for the Syrian crisis.
And considering that the aim of the statements they make are to serve finding a political solution; Geneva is the place to find a political solution for the Syrian crisis. Both Russia and the US support the Geneva [Conference]
Considering that Geneva didn’t lead to desired results, we can bring the talks and negotiations to inside Syria.
And the different sides can support this step to end the war and the crisis and finding it a comprehensive solution.
We did not go due to American pressure; the political decision is up to us.
RT presenter – Will you participate in drafting the new Syrian constitution?
Ilham Ahmad – Until now, we haven’t received any information, and we haven’t been asked to participate in setting up the new constitution or to participate in the constitution committee…
But if we are asked, we are of course ready, and have a list to participate with.
RT presenter – What about he Astana talks, and what is your views on it?
Ilham Ahmad – The role of Astana up until now was within the framework of setting up the deescalation regions, and ejecting some factions inside Syria.
I think the process of transferring those factions from one place to another was intended to solve the existing problems. But solving a problem in one place by transferring those factions, creates problems in other places.
And unfortunately it strengthened the role of Turkey in Syria.
Therefore I don’t think Astana had a positive impact in solving the crisis. Rather, I can now say that in coming stages it will provide grounds for a very dangerous future civil war.
It must be anticipated and precautions must be taken in shortest time, so that Syria doesn’t go from a war condition to a new one.
But with the elimination of the terrorist groups, I think we are heading towards laying the foundation for a starting stage to end the Syrian crisis.
RT presenter – Last question; some are accusing you of being separatists; that you are seeking to establish a state in Northern Syria. Some accuse you of having a vague message; of changing direction with that of the wind.
Now that the Syrian government and Syrian army have started realize victories, and you have approached them for you interests.
But this didn’t happen previously when the Syrian army needed your support, and you instead dealt with the American army and brought it into Syrian lands and cities, contrary to the wishes of the Syrian government and the Syrian army.
Shortly!
Ilham Ahmad – We have consistently requested guarantees from the Syrian government for our potential cooperation. But unfortunately the Syrian government never offered any guarantees, and always sought self-interest in dealing with us.
And now that we go to Damascus, it proves to all that we are not separatists. The separatists are those who brought other forces like Turkey and its proxies, and have conducted a referendum in order to ask the population to annex the lands under the “Euphrates Shield” to Turkey.
They are the separatists.
We have always worked to preserve the unity of Syrian lands, and SDF had a major role in protecting the borders.
The YPG has guarded the Syrian borders from any terrorist infiltration from Turkey into Syria. It has protected it and will protect it in the future.
We are seeking to find a way for dialogue with Damascus, and an understanding on the rights and fliberties within a decentralized, democratic, plural Syria for all Syirans.