Asya Abdullah, co-president of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), spoke to ANF about the recent chemical attacks in Syria and the increasing prospect of Western Intervention. She also reflected on current conditions in Rojava, and the role of Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey in deepening the crisis in the Rojava.

Abdullah claimed that the Islamists attacking Rojava had suffered important reverses, but that their goals remained the same: to take over Rojava and to destroy the resistance of the YPG and the Kurdish people.

Referring to the embargo currently in force on the borders of both Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan, Abdullah said that South Kurdistan’s (Iraqi Kurdistan) policy of keeping the border crossings closed was a policy aiming to depopulate Rojava. "Instead of for commerce or humanitarian aid the border was opened to let refugees cross. First they allow them to go hungry and then they open the doors; the meaning of this is apparent. They are trying to create a refugee crisis", she said and underlined that the policy of the Kurdish Regional Government is not helping the national interests.

Abdullah remarked that they expected South Kurdistan to carry out in practice their promise to halt the flow of refugees."If they are genuine the border crossings will be opened to trade and to humanitarian aid. We are having some difficulties but are circumstances are not on the level to create such a large flow of refugees. But conditions are being made to look like war in the press", she added.

Also commenting on the increasing prospect of Western intervention in Syria, Abdullah criticized Western countries for still having no clear policies on the subject of a solution to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, adding that these countries were basing this conflict too much on their own interests. "They are making long term strategic calculations. They are all expecting to get something out of the fighting in Syria later. However the level of violence that has been reached in Syria, and the possibility of increasing massacres should give concern. No power has emerged that could tackle this troubling trend within the internal dynamics of Syria or put a stop to the humanitarian crisis.For this reason we cannot say that intervention won’t happen. However its dimensions and shape are not clear", she underlined and noted that the issues of deadlock and deficiency in attitudes were because no alliance emerged in Syria that could produce a solution or give a shape to Syria’s future that intervention is now possible.

She warned those countries preparing this intervention that Kurdish regions have the power to provide for their own stability and security, and that they have the capacity to run themselves and to live in their own regions. "For this reason an attack against the Kurdish regions would count as an attempt at annexation and we would defend ourselves. For this reason if Western intervention is taken as an opportunity to attack Rojava, we will defend ourselves", she added.