Italian criminal lawyer Ezio Menzione evaluated the agreement signed on January 29 between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Damascus administration, which secured a number of gains but left the issues of administrative, economic, and political autonomy unresolved, as well as the developments on the ground. Menzione stated that the agreement represents an important step toward a democratic solution, but a limited one. He described the agreement as a test, adding that the process in Rojava is progressing in parallel with the ongoing process in Turkey.

 

Menzione emphasized that the attacks carried out by HTS, ISIS and Turkey-affiliated paramilitary groups, which began in Aleppo at the beginning of January and spread across all of Rojava, are entirely against the law. Highlighting that the attacks directly target civilians, and moreover that the aim is the displacement of a people, Menzione stated that this constitutes a war crime and said: “What is happening since almost one month and presently is in Kobanê is totally against the law. They have surrounded. They force all the population to leave their houses, to leave their whole life. We have seen it in Gaza but in this case, it's happening inside the country.  Here, it’s the state that besieges the city and the population of Kobanê. There is no reason for forgiving such a behavior. It’s an international crime and crime against humanity and it must be recognized.”

 

‘POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH TURKEY’

 

Emphasizing that the main responsibility for the attacks does not lie solely with Ahmed al-Shara, Menzione said: “I think Al-Sharaa is just a bloody puppet in the hands of Turkey and the US. The main responsibility must be attributed to the two governments that want to end the Kurdish experience in Rojava. The US has the responsibility of giving weapons and arms to the government of Syria. But the political responsibility lies with Turkey, which cannot tolerate an independent, confederated state or an autonomous territory lying just next to the Turkish state. Right now, the territory of Rojava is even more important than the region in Turkey itself, because it has more autonomy and may be dangerous, as it gives the idea of autonomy and democratic possibilities to the Kurds in Turkey. The experience of Rojava has been the most important in the last ten years in the region. And that’s why the two governments want to get rid of such an experience. Decisions about Rojava are taken in Ankara.”

 

‘ÖCALAN’S MESSAGE IS MEANT TO INCLUDE ALL THE KURDS’

 

Highlighting the positive and important aspects of the agreement signed between the SDF and the Damascus administration, Menzione said: “This is an important step in the direction indicated by Abdullah Öcalan, but certainly not the final step. The road to achieving a democratic confederal state is still long. Öcalan’s message is meant to include all the Kurds, in Syria as well as in Turkey. The two lines are intertwined. They don’t necessarily have to proceed at the same speed, but the goal is the same, and the victory in one state is important for the victory in the second, whoever reaches the goal first. A key point will be the absorption of the SDF army into the national army, the entire structure of the Kurdish army, not just its individual elements. This will be the real test of the democratic solution.”

 

MA / Deniz Karabudak