Germany calls for disarming Kurdish forces in Syria
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Germany’s foreign minister on Friday said that Kurdish forces in Syria must disarm and be integrated into the new government’s security apparatus after holding talks with her Turkish counterpart in Ankara.
“The Kurdish groups must be disarmed and integrated into the national security structure,” Annalena Baerbock said after meeting Hakan Fidan, as reported by Reuters.
The diplomats were holding talks as Turkey and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) clash with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane in northern Syria.
While noting that the security of Kurds is “essential for a free and secure future for Syria,” Baerbock said that Turkey’s security concerns must also be addressed.
Turkey considers the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, as the Syrian front for the PKK, which is designated as a terrorist group by Ankara.
The United States said it brokered a four-day truce between the SDF and Turkey and later extended it to the end of the week, but Ankara denies there is a truce. Kurdish forces have accused the Turkish side of violating the ceasefire.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi has suggested the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Kobane.
The new rulers in Damascus, the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have said minorities will be protected and that all of the country’s diverse communities will be partners in the new Syria.
“The Kurdish groups must be disarmed and integrated into the national security structure,” Annalena Baerbock said after meeting Hakan Fidan, as reported by Reuters.
The diplomats were holding talks as Turkey and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) clash with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane in northern Syria.
While noting that the security of Kurds is “essential for a free and secure future for Syria,” Baerbock said that Turkey’s security concerns must also be addressed.
Turkey considers the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, as the Syrian front for the PKK, which is designated as a terrorist group by Ankara.
The United States said it brokered a four-day truce between the SDF and Turkey and later extended it to the end of the week, but Ankara denies there is a truce. Kurdish forces have accused the Turkish side of violating the ceasefire.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi has suggested the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Kobane.
The new rulers in Damascus, the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have said minorities will be protected and that all of the country’s diverse communities will be partners in the new Syria.