Turkey talks peace while attacking Rojava, says AANES’s Ilham Ahmed
🔴’They talk peace on the one hand; they attack on the other.’ Ilham Ahmed calls out Turkey’s duplicity in northern Syria. #Rojava #Turkey #Syria #TurkishAttacks
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— MedyaNews (@medyanews_) January 15, 2025
“They are starting peace talks in Turkey on one hand but on the other, in practice, they are attacking,” said Ilham Ahmed, the Foreign Relations co-chair of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), during a panel discussion hosted by the Centre for Kurdish Progress in the UK Parliament on Tuesday.
The meeting, attended by British MPs and former diplomats, focused on the deteriorating security situation in northeast Syria. Ahmed criticised Turkey for its escalating aggression, saying it undermines stability in the region and threatens the Autonomous Administration.
“The Turkish government accuses us of being Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), but we can confirm that we are not PKK,” Ahmed said, stressing that “the PKK does not operate in North and East Syria,” as she addressed one of the recurring justifications Ankara uses for its military incursions.
She emphasised the severe humanitarian risks posed by the attacks of the Turkish-backed factions, including strikes on critical infrastructure like the Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam. “These actions drain our region’s resources and threaten local peace,” she said, calling for international pressure to halt Turkey’s hostilities.
Ahmed also spoke of ongoing Kurdish unity talks between two political parties: the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), describing them as strategically vital. “We hope that we can pull all Kurds together,” she remarked, adding that these dialogues could have far-reaching implications for regional stability.
Turning to Syria’s future, Ahmed reiterated the importance of adopting a federal model to ensure equality and democracy. “A decentralised constitution will lead to civil war, revenge killings and endless conflict,” she warned. “A Federal Syria is the only path to peace – it guarantees stability, minority rights and women’s representation.”
Ahmed urged global actors to support the autonomous administration model in North and East Syria, framing it as a pillar of long-term regional security amidst ongoing challenges. “We hope the peace process in Turkey will bring benefits to everyone,” she concluded.
The meeting highlighted the need for a unified Syrian political conference with inclusive representation to build a peaceful future, as Ahmed and her delegation advocated for women’s leadership in shaping Syria’s destiny.
