MESOP SALEH MUSLIM (PYD/PKK) ON PUTIN’S RADIO / PYD Leader: Kurds Not Considering Breaking From Syria

WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA) – 25 Aug 2015 – S aleh Muslim, leader of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), has said that they have no plan to break away from Syria, underlining that Kurds in Syria are a grounded part of the nation.

In an interview with Russian foreign news portal Sputnik, Muslim said the PYD wants to remain part of Syria. Muslim expressed his unease over Turkey’s push for establishing a safe zone in northern Syria, near the Turkish border, that would provide air cover for Syrian rebels fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the area.

“No one wants a safe zone [in northern Syria]. The matter is only debated in Turkish media… A unilateral move [by Turkey] would not be acceptable… No other powers in the region, including us, would accept it. Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens will not accept such an initiative,” said Muslim. Calling the status of relations with Turkey “stagnant,” Muslim added that the PYD wants the relationship with its northern neighbor to be improved, something that can only be achieved through mutual understanding by both parties.

‘Kurdish territorial gains result of popular support’

When questioned on the reason for the success of Kurdish forces making territorial gains in northern Syria, Muslim said the gains, which were largely in the form of land captured from ISIL, were due to the efforts and success of well-organized local groups. Such groups were also commended for their support given to the PYD in continuing its rule in captured cities. The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the PYD that took over the northern Syrian town of Tel Abyad from ISIL in June, not only allowed for the Kurdish regions of Jazira in the east and Kobani in the west to be connected, but also cut off a vital supply line of new recruits entering from the northern border to ISIL’s capital city Raqqa. When asked if the YPG had further plans to connect Kobani with Afrin, by taking Jarabulus from ISIL, Muslim did not completely rule out the possibility of such a move by the YPG, pointing out the presence of a large Kurdish population in the province. He did note, however, that such a move is not on the agenda at present. Muslim also drew attention to the good relations between the PYD, the US and other countries that have taken part in the campaign, saying that this was another factor helping Kurdish forces to make gains on ISIL.He added that, during the fight against ISIL, Turkey did not give any support to Kurdish forces, unlike the US and other countries. http://en.cihan.com.tr