Current political atmosphere is not in Turkey’s favor – Mazloum Abdi
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on Tuesday that the current political atmosphere is not in favor of Turkey, and that “We will witness major political changes in the upcoming period.”
This came during a panel discussion on Afrin which was held in Aleppo northern countryside under the title “Afrin between the Turkish Occupation and International Interests” on Tuesday and will last for two days.
The panel was attended by 90 representatives of organizations and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), as well as independent personalities, most of who participated virtually via Zoom Platform.
On May 3, the Turkish President revealed preparations for a new project that would allow the “voluntary return” of one million Syrian refugees to the Turkish-controlled areas in northern Syria.
Turkey aims, by returning refugees to northern Syria, to achieve a demographic change in the region
Abdi said.
Accordingly, Abdi expressed the need to stand against the Turkish plan and work to stop its project, as well as stop its “crimes” in Afrin.
The SDF Commander-in-Chief considered that Afrin was occupied as a result of an “international conspiracy”, and the political circumstances did not help to make any successful steps to liberate it.
In 2018, Turkish military and its affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) launched an offensive on Afrin region and occupied it following two months of battles with the Kurdish People’s Protections Units (YPG).
He pointed out that they have in mind the liberation of the occupied areas, like Sere Kaniye and Afrin, calling on the Kurds to unite for that.
“The indigenous people of Afrin are resisting inside and outside their region. In Shahba region [Aleppo northern countryside], they are steadfast in the face of difficult life conditions. Those people are overlooked by Turkey,” Abdi noted.
The panel discussion will last over three sessions that include different topics, and will be concluded with a statement and a press conference.