ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior official of northeast Syria’s (Rojava) ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) on Sunday said that there are “serious efforts” for a ceasefire between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey in the region.
“There are serious efforts to declare a ceasefire between the SDF and Turkey. Efforts to declare a ceasefire are being carried out with international support,” Sama Baktash, PYD foreign relations co-chair, told Rudaw’s Hussein Omar on Sunday.
Earlier in March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the landmark deal between the new leadership in Damascus and the SDF as a win for “all our Syrian brothers.”
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed a landmark agreement on March 10 to integrate the SDF into Syria's state institutions.
Turkey views the SDF as closely tied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization, a claim the SDF has repeatedly denied. Turkey is also fearful that the increased strength of Kurdish groups in northern Syria could embolden Kurdish movements within its own borders.
The dispute has led to several military clashes between Turkish forces and the SDF. Turkey has launched three military operations- Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Olive Branch, and Operation Peace Spring - against the SDF since 2016.
Baktash also criticized the formation of Syria’s new transitional government, saying it “does not represent all Syrian parties,” and adding that it was “not formed on the basis of democracy.”
On Saturday, Sharaa announced his new cabinet, which lacks minority representation.
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