US urges drafting a post-conflict constitution for Syria that includes Kurds
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Because of rapid recent developments in the Syrian conflict, the United States is pressuring the United Nations to implement its resolution that calls for the convening of a constitutional council which should include all countrymen, including Kurds in the northeast.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash met with Jeffrey, with the latter encouraging Gargash, other Arab and European countries to support UNSC Resolution 2254 and draft a post-war constitution for Syria with a progress report by October 31.
"The idea is and the key to it is to call on Staffan de Mistura, who has been charged by the UN to put together a constitutional committee as the first of a series of steps to transform the internal political situation in Syria, to call it forth," said Jeffrey, referring to the UN special envoy.
Jeffrey reiterated the US stance that they are supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as "allies" in the fight against ISIS. Washington has repeatedly called for regional actors to play a larger role in Syria post-conflict.
"I can cite a half dozen, just in the Middle East, examples of military forces leaving territories once there is a political process, once there is an understanding in the international community that you go back to status quo ante, or some other political result," he said.
Kurdish leaders in Iraq and Syria have questioned how harsh US rhetoric and sanctions toward Iran is reflected on the ground in both countries, where Washington has acknowledged Iran's use of proxy forces.
"We’re not going to force the Iranians out of Syria. We don’t even think the Russians can force the Iranians out of Syria, because force implies force, military action, to get – like we used – we forced the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait in 1991. This is all about political pressure," he said.
The US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and Turkey are in Syria without a direct UN mandate; whereas, Russia and Iran are in the country at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Both Turkey and the United States say their presence in Syria is to protect borders.
Ankara considers the SDF, an umbrella force that includes many ethnic groups but is primarily comprised of the People's Protection Units (YPG), to have Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) ties through the YPG. A claim both Kurdish parties reject.
Washington says its presence in Syria was necessary to protect Iraq's borders when ISIS emerged in 2014 and threatened to overtake much of Iraq.
The Syrian conflict is in its eighth year. At least 350,000 people are estimated to have been killed.
"There is a position that we take, and that everybody else takes, that all of the people in Syria, including the people in the northeast, should participate in the political process," US Special Representative for Syria Engagement Amb. James Jeffrey briefed reporters in New York on Thursday.
Jeffrey pointed to Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Turkish, Israeli and US forces "bumping into each other" in or around the country.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash met with Jeffrey, with the latter encouraging Gargash, other Arab and European countries to support UNSC Resolution 2254 and draft a post-war constitution for Syria with a progress report by October 31.
"The idea is and the key to it is to call on Staffan de Mistura, who has been charged by the UN to put together a constitutional committee as the first of a series of steps to transform the internal political situation in Syria, to call it forth," said Jeffrey, referring to the UN special envoy.
Jeffrey reiterated the US stance that they are supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as "allies" in the fight against ISIS. Washington has repeatedly called for regional actors to play a larger role in Syria post-conflict.
"I can cite a half dozen, just in the Middle East, examples of military forces leaving territories once there is a political process, once there is an understanding in the international community that you go back to status quo ante, or some other political result," he said.
Kurdish leaders in Iraq and Syria have questioned how harsh US rhetoric and sanctions toward Iran is reflected on the ground in both countries, where Washington has acknowledged Iran's use of proxy forces.
"We’re not going to force the Iranians out of Syria. We don’t even think the Russians can force the Iranians out of Syria, because force implies force, military action, to get – like we used – we forced the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait in 1991. This is all about political pressure," he said.
The US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and Turkey are in Syria without a direct UN mandate; whereas, Russia and Iran are in the country at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Both Turkey and the United States say their presence in Syria is to protect borders.
Ankara considers the SDF, an umbrella force that includes many ethnic groups but is primarily comprised of the People's Protection Units (YPG), to have Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) ties through the YPG. A claim both Kurdish parties reject.
Washington says its presence in Syria was necessary to protect Iraq's borders when ISIS emerged in 2014 and threatened to overtake much of Iraq.
The Syrian conflict is in its eighth year. At least 350,000 people are estimated to have been killed.
Political reconciliation for Kurds in Syria is further complicated because the ruling party established the Syrian Northern Federation, which operates autonomously from Damascus. The Syrian capital has been unable to govern or provide services to Syrian Kurdistan or what Kurds call Rojava.