Member of the Syrian Coalition Abdel Basset Sida said that the Democratic Union Party, also known as PYD, is the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK group, and coordinates with the Assad regime, Russia and Iran.
“The PYD does not express the will of the Syrian Kurds as it was established after secret agreements with the Assad regime whereby Assad handed over the predominately Kurdish areas to the PYD militates, Sida said. Sida added that there must a distinction between Sunni Arabs and ISIS as well as between the Kurds and the PYD.
Sida stressed that the PYD does not have grassroots support among the Kurds, but it has imposed its will on the Syrian Kurds by the force of arms. The PYD took advantage of the economic difficulties in northern Syria to recruit people into its militias.
Sida went on to say that there are other political bodies who represent the Kurds in Syria, including the Kurdish National Council which has popular support among Syria’s Kurds. “But this council is sometimes plagued by internal disputes, which reflects negatively on its performance. In contract, the PYD is more cohesive and has a central decision-making as it receives its orders directly from the PKK.”
Sida added that there is already an agreement between the Kurdish National Council and the Syrian National Coalition with regards to the legitimate rights of Syria’s Kurds. “Both sides agree that there must be a civilian, pluralistic political system that guarantees everyone’s rights in Syria. However, the administrative aspects of the new Syria need to be discussed more thoroughly. There are several models, but all are committed to Syria’s unity and to providing assurances to all components of the Syrian society.” (Source: Anadolu Agency)
