ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Moscow supports dialogue between the Kurds and Syrian government, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday. “Russia believes that the Syrians should draw their future together,” Zakharova stated. In response to a question by Rudaw’s correspondent to Moscow, the spokesperson claimed that “the Kurds are an essential part of Syria, and Russia supports the dialogue between Kurds and Damascus.” Syria’s Kurds have negotiated with Damascus for a number of years in an attempt to reach a common agreement. Negotiations have broken down after failing to reach a resolution that satisfies both sides. Currently, talks between the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) and Syrian regime in Damascus have stalled, since the Assad regime was unwilling to recognize Kurdish autonomy in the areas they govern at last year’s negotiation. The NES seeks to preserve Kurdish self-governance under a federal system – similar to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Disunity on the Syrian Kurdish front has also hindered the negotiations. The ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) that dominates the NES and the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), an umbrella group of several opposition parties, have been at odds for several years, with the former accusing the latter of being unwilling to share power in northeast Syria, an area known to Kurds as Rojava. The two sides entered a reconciliation process in October 2019, reaching an initial agreement in June on a set of “preliminary understandings” covering governance, administration and protection. A senior member of the ENKS said in December they are ready to hold talks with the Syrian government if regime-backer Russia plays the role of guarantor. However, no negotiations have taken place. Russia intervened on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2015, as the regime was facing a complete breakdown and an overthrow by rebels. Since then, Russia has emerged as the main foreign player in the Syrian conflict. “Syria is a country where different ethnic and religious groups live together in peace, and it should be respected, and we have repeatedly stressed that this coexistence must be preserved and maintained." Zakharova added. Syrians first took to the streets in 2011 to protest against Assad, before evolving into a civil war involving multiple countries. At least 384,000 people have since died, including more than 116,000 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor in March. The conflict has displaced more than 11 million people internally and abroad. “The foreign jihadists and forces are the main obstacle in front of the Syrians to rebuild their country, and bring back sovereignty to Syria,” Zakharova added.
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