Turkey bets on Syrian opposition – PYD
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – Aldar Khalil, member of co-presidency of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), emphasized on Saturday that the Syrian opposition “has always been a Trojan horse to pass on Turkish agendas though its failure is clear.”
Remarks of the Kurdish politician follow demonstrations in areas held by the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), in northern Syria in response to statements made recently by Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
On July 11, the Turkish minister revealed that he had short chat with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad where he called for the necessity of reconciliation between the Syrian government and the opposition, in his words.
Cavusoglu called for reconciling between the two parties to fulfill “permanent peace” as he claimed.
Khalil said, ”Turkey used the Syrian opposition factions when it occupied Syrian territories such as Idlib, Jarablus, al-Bab, Azaz, Afrin, Tal Abyad and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain),” according to the official website of PYD.
The PYD was established on 20 September 2003 in northeast Syria.
It describes itself as believing in social equality, justice and the freedom of belief as well as pluralism and the freedom of political parties.
Responding to a question regarding the fate of the opposition in case of any agreement between Erdogan and al-Assad, Khalil indicated that Turkey will dispense with the ”opposition”, and its importance to Erdogan will wane after he gets what he wants from al-Assad, indicating that they have become a bargaining tool for Turkey to compromise.
Khalil added, ”The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) warned the opposition that their collaboration with Turkey channels into making money; however, they claimed and are still claiming to be national opposition.”
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor after the SDF defeated ISIS militarily there.
The Kurdish politician went further saying that Erdogan exploited the opposition to put pressure on Damascus in turn for concessions from Russia. Besides, “it created the Islamic State Organization (ISIS), helped develop al-Nusra Front, supported the Muslim Brotherhood and still it supports the mercenary groups to deepen the Syrian crisis.”
Khalil stressed that the Turkish interference in Syrian affairs and the Syrian revolution was the reason behind prolonging the Syrian crisis that hindered reaching a solution up to date.