Salih Muslim, the Democratic Union Party (PYD)’s spokesman for foreign relations, expressed serious concerns about Syria’s new transitional government in an interview with Al Arabiya TV on 3 April. Muslim criticised the government for its reliance on foreign powers, which he said undermined its independence. He said: “Some of them are from countries like Turkey and Georgia and they still have Turkish passports and are waiting for instructions from Turkey”.
Despite these concerns, Muslim made it clear that the Kurdish community does not seek the partition of Syria. “We are the real partners of Syria,” he said, affirming that Kurds see themselves as an integral part of Syria’s future. He also highlighted the success of coexistence in northeastern Syria, where Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs and other minorities live together peacefully. “This is valid for all of Syria. What we are calling for is unity and mutual understanding,” Muslim stressed.
While Muslim remains sceptical of the current regime, he expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with the new government, provided it meets the needs of all ethnic groups in Syria. “We are ready for talks with the new regime,” he confirmed, calling for a political system that promotes equality and inclusiveness.
James Jeffrey, the former US special envoy to Syria, also spoke during the interview, highlighting the challenges of Syria’s transition. Acknowledging the complexity of the five-year transition period, he said: “First of all, it’s for the Syrian people to decide whether these are wrong steps or not.” Jeffrey emphasised the importance of ensuring security, particularly for minority groups, stating, “The key thing will be the preservation of general security and avoiding attacks on minorities.”
Reflecting on past experience, particularly in Iraq, Jeffrey noted, “The Iraqis wanted to do this faster, but it wasn’t done well”. He warned that rushing the political process in Syria could lead to mistakes.
