Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) Co-chair Ilham Ehmed spoke to Hawar News Agency (ANHA) about the agreement made by Russia, Turkey and Iran in Astana for the creation of de-escalation areas in Syria.

Ehmed stressed that: “We are for the end of bloodshed in Syria, and integrity of all Syria with a decentralized administration. The Astana alliance of Turkey, Iran and Russia is nothing but a consequence of the coincidence of interests of the three countries.”

Remarking that Turkey intended to legitimize Jabhat al-Nusra and similar gang groups through this alliance, Ehmed said Russia and Iran on the other hand agreed on a de-escalation of war in the mentioned areas for their own interests.

Ehmed pointed out that Turkey sought to disrupt peace and security in the lands of Northern Syria Autonomous Administration by means of this agreement, saying: “Refugees, whom Erdoğan uses as a tool of blackmail against European states, are not going to Turkey for a while now. Erdoğan does not consent to the US security forces acting together with YPG on the eastern border of the Euphrates, and the Russian security forces acting together with YPG in western Euphrates, Efrîn, Til Rifat and other areas.”

Ehmed emphasised that they expected the Russian government to not make an alliance against the Syrian people that were displaced due to war and ISIS atrocity across Syria and migrated to safe zones, nor against the region's peoples that defend themselves and fight against terror.