A top official of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) commented on the ongoing embargo of the Syrian administration on the Kurdish neighbourhoods of Sheikhmaqshud (Şêxmeqsûd) and Ashrafiya (Eşrefiyê) in the city of Aleppo.
Bedran Çiya said that the Syrian government is trying to tighten its grip in different parts of the country and force people into submission while the international community is totally distracted by the crisis in Ukraine.
“First of all, the Syrian regime is confident that the whole world is busy with the war between Ukraine and Russia; that everyone’s attention is drawn to the war”, he said.
“So they make moves to impose their rule on people in different neighbourhoods. Their aim is to eradicate the identities in these neighbourhoods in a despotic manner. They think the time is ripe for forcing our people into submission.”
He added:
“We also believe that there are talks between Turkish intelligence and Damascus. Such talks are not entirely new. There are efforts on both sides for reconciliation. They unite in the objective of targeting AANES and the will of its people. The primary goal of Turkey at the moment is ending the existence of AANES. All the talks and negotiations focus on this. This is of major concern.”
He further commented on the efforts of the Syrian administration to turn the communication between two countries’ intelligence agencies into political and diplomatic relations.
He said:
“Talks between the Turkish National Intelligence Agency and the Military Intelligence Division of Syria have been on the agenda for some time now. Pieces of information keep appearing. As far as we know, talks are taking place. I can even say that their communication with Turkish intelligence officers never ceased. They always had some contact.”
He continued:
“But now they wish to turn the contacts between intelligence services into political and diplomatic relations. As far as we know, Russia is the mediator. They want to bring an end to the political and diplomatic siege on the Damascus regime, to improve relations with the Arab countries, and to resume political relations with Turkey.