Co-Chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Salih Muslim spoke about the interview that Bashar al-Assad gave to Sky News Arabic. In the interview, Bashar al-Assad noted that Turkey should leave Syria, and that it would not be possible to meet with Erdogan without a withdrawal.

Noting that such statements are not enough to make Turkey leave, Salih Muslim said: "The Damascus administration show no decision or authority. There is a war between hegemonic powers regarding Syria. It seems that the hegemonic forces don't agree on the issue of Turkey’s withdrawal and they don't care. Iran has interests with Turkey, so it no longer supports Turkey's withdrawal. Russia wants to implement its plans with Turkey. The international coalition does not want to anger NATO partner Turkey."

'I don’t think Damascus will take any steps'

Salih Muslim said that he did not expect Damascus to take any practical step to force Turkey to leave and based his assessment on the following examples: "In Sochi, Turkey and its gangs agreed that they will open the M4/M5 road, but this has not happened yet. Turkey and its mercenaries impose their own conditions. Therefore, it seems difficult to think that Turkey will leave Syria.”

Pointing out that Damascus cannot take a step on its own, Salim Muslim said: "Decisions were taken against the Autonomous Administration at the Astana talks. Those who made this decision are Turkey, Russia, Syria and Iran. Do they actually want Turkey to leave? No, they don't. Russia is working for Erdogan and Bashar to meet, it wants to bring them together."

‘Turkey wants to expand its occupation’

Muslim said that the Turkish state has no intention of leaving Syria. On the contrary, it is after expanding its occupation. "Now Turkey is drawing up another plan for the Turkmen. In other words, they say they will establish a Turkmen state in Northern and Eastern Syria. Turkey has set up training camps in the occupied regions. It trains and uses the people he brought here. The occupied areas have become the warehouse of gangs. Turkey is using terrorism as blackmail to the world."

Pointing out that Turkey will not leave Syria without a serious commitment from all sides involved, Muslim said: “The issue is complex. With our unity and struggle, we can force Turkey out of here."