Syrian Deputy Premier: ‘The Kurds Must Unify Their Demands’

Qadri Jamil is the Syrian deputy prime minister, as well as the secretary of the newly-licensed People’s Will Party. In this interview with Rudaw, he speaks about an unwritten cooperation agreement between the Syrian government and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), and admits that Qamishli airport is being jointly controlled by the two. Jamil says that in order to have a stronger voice, Syrian Kurds should overcome their divisions and must ‘unify their demands.’ Here is an edited transcript of his interview:

Rudaw: In the past few days 20,000 western (Syrian) Kurds arrived in southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan. Can’t you prevent people from leaving their homes?

Qadri Jamil: I am speaking to you as the secretary of the People’s Will Party. We are an opposition party, which participates in the government as the first step towards forming a national government. There are many factors that affect the Syrian economy. First, international economic sanctions in particular, the American and European sanctions are causing severe damage to our economy. Second is the lack of communication and transportation within Syria because of current security situation. The Syrian Kurds, since the beginning of the crisis, have played a very positive role and pursued peaceful means to achieve their rights. The positive role of Syrian Kurds has made them a target for extremist outside forces. Fortunately, the Kurds have been successful in fighting extremists.

Rudaw: As you already announced, friends of the Syrian regime provide $500 million worth of oil every month. Does Iraq assist in that?

  The Syrian Kurds, since the beginning of the crisis, have played a very positive role and pursued peaceful means to achieve their rights. 

Qadri Jamil: What I said was that Syria is in need of $500 million worth of oil every month. I said we have friends across the world such as Russia, Syria, and Iran and they are ready to help us. International sanctions are crippling our economy. The sanctions are affecting poor people more than the regime leaders. Syria has been able to sustain its economy for the last two years despite the international sanctions, but the impact of the crisis on the economy is undeniable.

Rudaw: Are you saying that Iraq does not assist you with oil and weapons?

Qadri Jamil: Of course, Iraq does not provide us with weapons. If we get anything from Iraq, it’s food, and we pay for it.

Rudaw: What about oil?

Qadri Jamil: No, so far we have not received any oil from Iraq. But I hope our relations improve to the point that Iraq supplies us oil at international prices.

Rudaw: The al-Nusrah Front and the Islamic State of Iraq launch widespread attacks on different areas, but the Syrian army does not confront them. Why?

Qadri Jamil: the extremists have been attacking all Syrian people, and recently they have concentrated their attacks on Syrian Kurds. They are attacking Kurds to force them to change their political stand. The stand of the Syrian army is to confront extremists in every part of Syria, but the war is huge due to massive outside interference in the Syrian affairs. All Syrians, including the government and opposition, have to unite in the face of extremists.

Rudaw: Who runs Qamishli, Hasaka, and Efrin?

  Of course, Iraq does not provide us with weapons. If we get anything from Iraq, it’s food, and we pay for it.  

Qadri Jamil: The al-Nusrah Front definitely does not control these areas.

Rudaw: Then who runs them?

Qadri Jamil: The forces that are on the ground and defend themselves. Those forces are against the interference of outside forces.

Rudaw: Is it the Syrian government or other forces?

Qadri Jamil: local people defend and administer those areas. Also, units of the Syrian army close to Qamishli and Hasaka can help as well.

Rudaw: Are you saying there are Syrian forces there?

Qadri Jamil: Yes.

Rudaw: Who administers oil fields such as Ramelan?

Qadri Jamil: Different forces control different parts of oil fields, but the level of oil production is currently zero.

Rudaw: But according to sources YPG (People’s Protection Units) forces, which are affiliated to the PYD (Democratic Union Party), are controlling the area?

Qadri Jamil: I think the work is being done in cooperation between the people who defend the area and the units of the Syrian army.

  I do have information that YPG forces are protecting Kurdish areas and there might be a temporary agreement.  

Rudaw: According to a Russia Today report, the military airport of Qamishli is protected by the Syrian army and YPG forces. Is that true?

Qadri Jamil: Yes it is. There are regular flights between Qamishli and Damascus.

Rudaw: Why did you ask YPG forces to protect the Kurdish areas?

Qadri Jamil: I am unaware of such a request. I do have information that YPG forces are protecting Kurdish areas and there might be a temporary agreement.

Rudaw: Are you aware of the agreement?

Qadri Jamil: When we say there is a secret or temporary agreement, it means there is not any real agreement. Such agreements are imposed by political and security developments without having to sign a document. 

Rudaw: Why did you not make such an agreement with the Kurdish National Council or other Kurdish parties?

Qadri Jamil: I don’t know. Relations between the Syrian government and Kurdish parties are good and the Kurdish parties are going to participate in the Geneva conference.

Rudaw: Does the Syrian president have any intention of solving the Kurdish problem in Syria?

Qadri Jamil: Syria will have to decide on their fate on the basis of territorial unity. The era of one party ruling Syria is over, and all Syrian parties will have to agree on how to move the country forward.

  Relations between the Syrian government and Kurdish parties are good, 

Rudaw: So far, the Syrian opposition has not recognized Kurdish rights. If the Syrian president or government want to solve the Kurdish problem, what will they offer?

Qadri Jamil: First of all, there is not only one opposition. There is one opposition that does not recognize the right of Kurds, and there is our opposition group that demands the rights of Syrian Kurds.

Rudaw: What will the opposition that you are part of offer to the Kurds?

Qadri Jamil: The Kurds have played a very positive role since the beginning of the crisis. Therefore, their demands will be heard and considered seriously. We have to remove all obstacles that the Kurds faced in Syria in the past.

Rudaw: How do you feel when you see the images of the exodus of Syrian Kurds?

Qadri Jamil: The only solution is political. The solution for all Syrians is to go to Geneva and find a way out of the crisis. The economy is disrupted because of the security situation. Enhancing the security situation requires reaching political agreement and preventing foreign interference.

 The only solution is political. 

Rudaw: Some Kurdish parties call for a local administration while others demand federalism. What would be the Syrian government reaction?

Qadri Jamil: First, the Kurds have to unify their demands. Second, the issue has to be resolved peacefully through negotiations with other Syrian groups. We have a very special situation. We still don’t know how many Syrian parties have truly expressed their opinions on the future of Syria.

Rudaw: How is the relation between the Syrian government and the Kurdistan Region?

Qadri Jamil: The relation between the Syrian government and all Iraqi groups, including the Kurdistan Region, has to improve in order to solve the Syrian crisis. I hope soon the Kurdish problem in Syria is resolved and their demands are considered seriously.