The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is open to starting negotiations with Turkey, if Ankara ends its occupation of Syrian lands, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi said this week.
“Turkey is occupying our lands and has displaced our people from Afrin (Efrîn), Ras al-Ayn (Serêkaniyê), and Tell Abyad (Girêspî), but if it is ready to enter into dialogue with us regarding ending the occupation and demographic change, and stopping its attacks against our people, then we are ready for dialogue with Ankara,” Abdi told Al-Sharq.
With regard to ongoing rapprochement talks between Ankara and Damascus, Abdi said any solution on the Syrian question should take into account the SDF and the interests of the people living in Kurdish-controlled northeast Syria.
“The SDF has relations with the Syrian regime and wants to develop them,” Abdi said.
The commander told Al-Sharq that with more than 100,000 fighters, the SDF should be a part of Syria’s defence system.