By Abdullah al-Ghadawi; Translation by Rana Abdul
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Co-President of Kurdish Self-administration in Erin, Kobani, and al-Jazira considered mistakes committed to civilians in Manbij by YPG cannot be generalized on all fighters.
In a dialogue with Zaman al-Wasl about the violations in Manbij and Tal Abyad, he said they do not accept these violations and they are investigating to hold the ones involved accountable by a legal committee from all areas.
Mansour revealed in the dialogue he headed a senior delegate from Self-administration in a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan to open cross points in its controlled areas to lift the siege. The dialogue:
Z: Where did the political and security form arrive to for the federalism?
M: on July 27, the foundation council and quartet committee will meet with Self-administration council will meet to discuss the political, legal and security situation. The meeting will include experts and rights advocates. The concerned with this meeting will be invited within 10 days to put the final touches on the federalism.
Z: So you are moving on with the federalism project despite all objections?
M: We see the project useful for all Syrians. It is not a separatist project as some like to describe it, but a project to preserve Syria’s unity and fulfill society’s demands.
Z: Since it is a project for all Syrians, why did not you announce it from one side?
M: We tried to communicate with Syrian opposition to explain our point of view and we sent messages to United Nations and big countries explaining the federalism project. No one responded to these messages as if they are the ones who want to declare insularity.
Local and international parties ignoring the federalism
Z: Who did you communicate with from Syrian opposition?
M: A part of the opposition who we see as moderate. The other part which is subject to international agendas we did not communicate with them. We communicated with some local councils in Raqqa, al-Hasaka, Tal Abyad before ISIS took over and we proposed our project.
Z: But this is not the opposition, why did not you communicate with the Syrian National Coalition?
M: SNC called us separatists, how do we communicate with it? Why did not they communicate with us? We said Syria is living now a dividing reality between extremists, so let us preserve what we have of land and secure our regions because the crisis will linger and we do not to lose our gains. And hence we declared federalism.
Coordination Committee’s response
Z: Even your allies in Coordination Committee were not satisfied with how Federalism were established, do not you think you need to reconsider this?
M: This reservation came from their side without discussion or dialogue. Some delegates came to us and we explained our project and they said the project is noble, but it needs study. But until now we did not receive a response. This is what we want from Kurdistan in Iraq.
Z: Are you communicating with neighbors?
M: We are now in Kurdistan in Iraq heading a senior delegate. We came to be understood by others and we want to be part of this world. We want Kurdistan to lift the blockade off our regions and to allow entrance of relief and medical items, and we do not want any support from anyone. We now live in a suffocating blockade since Self-administration was announced. Where is this free world from this blockade and we suffered alot.
Z: Maybe your project is what brought suffering to people in those regions?
M: Suffering was there before announcement of Federalism. There was theft, blood spill and destruction of infrastructure. The real tragedies were there before the project was established, we are not the ones responsible about this tragedy. It is a result to the policies of neighboring countries. They are the ones who besiege us.
Z: You talk about security and safety when human rights organizations confirmed violations by YPG and ethnic cleansing in Manbij and Tal Abyad?
M: There were mistakes committed on the ground by some personnel and we do not deny it. We are now working to form a committee from rights advocates from all regions to return human rights and hold responsible accountable, and work in a serious way to give all rights to the population. There were incidents in the state of war. Some of them fled from war and were suspected to be ISIS. And this is a war. Mistakes happen. Manbij liberation is very close and we are heading to Raqqa.
Z: When do you expect Manbij liberation from ISIS?
M: militarily speaking, Manbij fell into YPG, but what is preventing its liberation are the bombs and mines in addition to make sure not many civilians fall in the process and the liberation will be in the coming few days. We will not impose Federalism on anyone.
Z: Will you head to Raqqa?
M: Yes, we promised to answer calls of people of Raqqa and liberate it from extremists. The decision was at the beginning to liberate Raqqa, but military leadership preferred to work in Manbij to cul all supply roads and communication between ISIS members.
Z: Will Raqqa be under Federalism as well?
M: We will not impose Federalism on them, the decision will be theirs.
Z: What are the borders of the Federalism which you want from your side?
M: We hope the Federalism will be a model for all Syria and for each region and population to have the freedom of choice. We did not impose it in Kobani, al-Jazira and Efrin and we want Damascus to be our capital.
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Co-President of Kurdish Self-administration in Erin, Kobani, and al-Jazira considered mistakes committed to civilians in Manbij by YPG cannot be generalized on all fighters.
In a dialogue with Zaman al-Wasl about the violations in Manbij and Tal Abyad, he said they do not accept these violations and they are investigating to hold the ones involved accountable by a legal committee from all areas.
Mansour revealed in the dialogue he headed a senior delegate from Self-administration in a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan to open cross points in its controlled areas to lift the siege. The dialogue:
Z: Where did the political and security form arrive to for the federalism?
M: on July 27, the foundation council and quartet committee will meet with Self-administration council will meet to discuss the political, legal and security situation. The meeting will include experts and rights advocates. The concerned with this meeting will be invited within 10 days to put the final touches on the federalism.
Z: So you are moving on with the federalism project despite all objections?
M: We see the project useful for all Syrians. It is not a separatist project as some like to describe it, but a project to preserve Syria’s unity and fulfill society’s demands.
Z: Since it is a project for all Syrians, why did not you announce it from one side?
M: We tried to communicate with Syrian opposition to explain our point of view and we sent messages to United Nations and big countries explaining the federalism project. No one responded to these messages as if they are the ones who want to declare insularity.
Local and international parties ignoring the federalism
Z: Who did you communicate with from Syrian opposition?
M: A part of the opposition who we see as moderate. The other part which is subject to international agendas we did not communicate with them. We communicated with some local councils in Raqqa, al-Hasaka, Tal Abyad before ISIS took over and we proposed our project.
Z: But this is not the opposition, why did not you communicate with the Syrian National Coalition?
M: SNC called us separatists, how do we communicate with it? Why did not they communicate with us? We said Syria is living now a dividing reality between extremists, so let us preserve what we have of land and secure our regions because the crisis will linger and we do not to lose our gains. And hence we declared federalism.
Coordination Committee’s response
Z: Even your allies in Coordination Committee were not satisfied with how Federalism were established, do not you think you need to reconsider this?
M: This reservation came from their side without discussion or dialogue. Some delegates came to us and we explained our project and they said the project is noble, but it needs study. But until now we did not receive a response. This is what we want from Kurdistan in Iraq.
Z: Are you communicating with neighbors?
M: We are now in Kurdistan in Iraq heading a senior delegate. We came to be understood by others and we want to be part of this world. We want Kurdistan to lift the blockade off our regions and to allow entrance of relief and medical items, and we do not want any support from anyone. We now live in a suffocating blockade since Self-administration was announced. Where is this free world from this blockade and we suffered alot.
Z: Maybe your project is what brought suffering to people in those regions?
M: Suffering was there before announcement of Federalism. There was theft, blood spill and destruction of infrastructure. The real tragedies were there before the project was established, we are not the ones responsible about this tragedy. It is a result to the policies of neighboring countries. They are the ones who besiege us.
Z: You talk about security and safety when human rights organizations confirmed violations by YPG and ethnic cleansing in Manbij and Tal Abyad?
M: There were mistakes committed on the ground by some personnel and we do not deny it. We are now working to form a committee from rights advocates from all regions to return human rights and hold responsible accountable, and work in a serious way to give all rights to the population. There were incidents in the state of war. Some of them fled from war and were suspected to be ISIS. And this is a war. Mistakes happen. Manbij liberation is very close and we are heading to Raqqa.
Z: When do you expect Manbij liberation from ISIS?
M: militarily speaking, Manbij fell into YPG, but what is preventing its liberation are the bombs and mines in addition to make sure not many civilians fall in the process and the liberation will be in the coming few days. We will not impose Federalism on anyone.
Z: Will you head to Raqqa?
M: Yes, we promised to answer calls of people of Raqqa and liberate it from extremists. The decision was at the beginning to liberate Raqqa, but military leadership preferred to work in Manbij to cul all supply roads and communication between ISIS members.
Z: Will Raqqa be under Federalism as well?
M: We will not impose Federalism on them, the decision will be theirs.
Z: What are the borders of the Federalism which you want from your side?
M: We hope the Federalism will be a model for all Syria and for each region and population to have the freedom of choice. We did not impose it in Kobani, al-Jazira and Efrin and we want Damascus to be our capital.
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