Democratic Union Party (PYD) Co-chair Shahoz Hesen spoke to ANHA about the invading Turkish state’s attacks against Northern and Eastern Syria. Hesen said, “If the invading Turkish state attacks are not prevented, they will affect the fight against ISIS greatly and hinder the solution to the Syrian crisis.”

“ATTACKS TARGET THE SOLUTION TO THE SYRIAN CRISIS”

Hesen said the invading Turkish state is openly hostile against the peoples of Northern and Eastern Syria. Adding that the attacks happened deliberately on the World Kobanê Day and at a time when important advances are happening in the fight against ISIS, Hesen said: “Peace, a common life and the freedom of peoples are at an advanced state in Northern and Eastern Syria. The Turkish state can’t tolerate this life in Northern and Eastern Syria and wants to destroy the democratic project.

The Turkish state has a racist approach. The attacks constitute crimes in the eyes of international law. This has been clear in Afrin. The Turkish state is implementing policies of genocide, demographic change, rape and invasion against the Kurdish people and all Northern and Eastern Syrian peoples. That is why they attack the free zones with all kinds of dirty methods.”

“TARGETING CIVILIANS IS A GREAT DANGER”

Hesen said the process of disbanding ISIS gangs started with the victory the freedom fighters achieved in Kobanê and continues with the operation in Deir ez-Zor: “The Turkish state doesn’t want ISIS to end, on the contrary, they want to rescue the gangs from the current situation. The Turkish state’s policy of putting peoples through genocide has been targeting journalists, women and children directly. The peoples of Syria have come together and fought against ISIS. This resistance continues in all invaded areas of Rojava and Northern Syria, starting with Afrin. The attacks increase our unity, strength, resistance and struggle. The Turkish state is implementing anti-humane, dirty policies and acting with the same ISIS mindset. The Turkish state targeting civilians is a great danger.”

“THERE MUST BE SERIOUS REACTION”

Hesen stressed that the Turkish state’s allegation that they were attacked from Northern Syria is an absolute lie and added that the only truth is that the Turkish state attacks Northern Syria and murders civilians. He added that the international silence in the face of the ongoing attacks is unacceptable: “France issued a statement on the attacks. Statements are of course important, but they are not enough. There must be serious reaction against the attacks. Because the Turkish state attacks mean the trampling of agreements approved by international states in the fight against ISIS. International states should fulfill their responsibility for the defense of the areas liberated from ISIS.”

“ISIS PRESENCE WILL CONTINUE IF ATTACKS DON’T STOP”

“Ever supporting ISIS, Erdogan wants to avenge the gangs,” said Hesen and added that they want to preserve ISIS with the ongoing attacks. He added: “The continuance of ISIS’ presence is a great threat for humanity. If the attacks are not prevented, they will affect the fight against ISIS greatly and hinder the solution to the Syrian crisis.”

“SYRIA’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY IS AT RISK”

Hesen also protested the Syrian regime’s silence against the ongoing attacks: “Almost every day, Russia and the Syrian regime officials issue statements stressing the territorial integrity of Syria. But when Turkey carries out invasion attacks on Syrian land, the Syrian regime doesn’t react. Looking at the Syrian regime’s silence, it’s either that the Turkish state and the Syrian regime came to an agreement on the attacks against Syria, or the attacks are in the regime’s favor. This approach can’t protect the territorial integrity of Syria. Invasion is a crime according to international law. The Syrian regime needs to file lawsuits against the Turkish state crimes and fulfill their responsibility. But the Syrian regime has closed its eyes to the ongoing attacks, in a completely opposite manner. The Syrian regime is laying the groundwork for the Turkish state attacks.”

“WE WILL DEFEND OUR GAINS”

PYD Co-chair said a new process has started in Northern and Eastern Syria and that the solution to the Syrian crisis is now on the table: “The political will in Northern and Eastern Syria has reached a level of posing a key to the solution. There are attacks against the Democratic Nation project, but we will defend our gains with great resistance and great struggle.”