ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A French Senator on Saturday told Rudaw his country supports the integration of Kurds in the new Syria’s governance, calling for measures to prevent attacks against them with Paris an active member of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in northeast Syria (Rojava).
“There have also been military victories by the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] that demonstrate both their competence and the international support they receive. This support must be clearly affirmed, as it is today, to ensure that the authorities in Damascus politically integrate Rojava into Syria's reconstruction,” Senator Remi Feraud told Rudaw on Saturday.
Feruad emphasized the importance of other ethnic minorities' integration into the government, such as Christians.
“There is already concrete French support through official or semi-official presence in Rojava. The US military presence has also been strengthened, and relocated, and has been decisive in preventing Turkey from taking action, particularly against Kobane,” he added.
France is an active member of the coalition and has troops in Rojava, alongside the US. It has also recently joined Americans in their efforts to unite Syrian Kurds through intra-Kurdish talks that have been stalled for years.
Feraud emphasized that despite the "mistrust" they have, they are willing to establish ties with the new Syrian authorities.
The interview followed a day after the foreign ministers of France and Germany visited Damascus for talks with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“France marking its presence and its determination to support the Kurds and the Syrian Democratic Forces in Rojava is essential,” Feraud said.
On Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reiterated France’s alliance with Kurdish fighters in the war against ISIS.
The Kurdish-led SDF control most of northeast Syria. They are the main allies of the United States-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).
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