Foza Yusif, a member of the Co-Presidency Committee of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), stated that if the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan leads to a resolution, it would eliminate the excuses Turkey has used until now. She said, “This would create a positive situation both in terms of our relationship with Turkey and in resolving the problems within Syria.”

Yusif responded to questions from ANF and noted that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is currently under significant pressure from international powers. She recalled that its oppressive practices against Alawites have come to light. She pointed out that both the constitution HTS has drafted and the transitional government it has formed so far are not democratic. Foza Yusif stated: “If they continue in this way, they risk becoming a repetition of the Baath regime. We have expressed this on various platforms many times. In particular, their drafted constitution disregards the will of the Syrian people. If they insist on continuing this political line, they will be defeated just as the Baath regime was. If they intend to remain a part of Syria’s future, they must completely change their political approach and reconsider the decisions they have made so far. Their mentality and practices so far have shown no real difference from the Baath regime.”

The danger in the occupied areas remains

Yusif emphasized that one of the most critical issues they are facing is ensuring that the people of Afrin (Efrîn), Girê Spî, and Serêkaniyê can return to their lands and live there safely. She continued: “There are still militias in those regions. In some areas, the Turkish state is also present. Our people can only live safely on their land through the presence of local forces and internal security units, because the danger has not yet passed. Our condition is the withdrawal of the Turkish state and the mercenaries affiliated with it from the territories they have occupied. Only then can our people live in safety. Discussions will be held about the future of these areas. Local councils must be established, the people must govern themselves, and municipalities must be in the hands of the people. Security is the most fundamental issue, and both security and administration must be established. This is the approach we are taking.”

Our stance against the Alawite massacre is clear

Yusif stated that the massacre of Alawites had a profoundly damaging impact across all of Syria, as it sent a threatening message to all communities. She stated, “This is why we have made our position on the massacre absolutely clear. We are working to stop such massacres, to expose them, and to prevent them from happening again. We are actively pursuing this both in diplomatic channels and within the framework of international law. We are also working to provide humanitarian support to Alawite communities. In every region, people must govern themselves through their own will, and everyone’s safety must be ensured. That responsibility lies with Damascus. One of the key topics in our negotiations with Damascus is preventing such massacres from ever happening again. Those who committed the massacre must be held accountable and brought to justice. A monitoring committee has been established for this purpose. We are also following the legal developments closely. We will be observing whether justice is served and whether those responsible for the massacre are prosecuted.”

A resolution in Northern Kurdistan would impact all relations

Yusif recalled that, since 2011, the Turkish state has acted as a source of instability and has supported all forces opposed to the Rojava Revolution. She added: “This is why, if the Kurdish question in Northern (Bakûr) Kurdistan is resolved through democratic means, it will undoubtedly have an impact on relations between Turkey and Rojava. It will also influence the policy that the Turkish state is pursuing in Syria. Turkey has repeatedly claimed, ‘The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is present here, and that is why we are launching attacks.’ If a resolution is achieved, all the excuses Turkey has used until now will collapse. Therefore, if the process developed by Mr. Öcalan succeeds, it will lead to a positive outcome in terms of security, our relationship with Turkey, and the resolution of the problems in Syria.”