As conditions shift in Syria, Kurds open to talks with Damascus

Al-Monitor ^ | June 21, 2018 | Fehim Tastekin

[Texas Fossil]

Actions by the United States, Turkey and Russia could be driving Kurds into the awkward embrace of the Syrian regime.

First, Russia gave the green light in January for Turkey's Operation Olive Branch against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin, Syria. (Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist-affiliated group.) Then earlier this month, the United States and Turkey agreed on a plan for the future of Syria's Manbij, a city the YPG controlled until recently. That future doesn't include the YPG, which had helped a US-led coalition's efforts to drive the Islamic State (IS) out of Syria.

Given that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces helped the YPG fight Turkey in Afrin — an unexpected gesture that ultimately proved futile — it's not a complete surprise that the Kurds would consider turning to the regime under the current circumstances. Seeing their options limited, Kurds sent out the message: “We are ready to negotiate with Damascus.” And they did not turn away a delegation Assad dispatched in early June to Syrian Kurdistan.

A Kurdish source who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said Kurds will now disregard entities intent on dividing Syria and will hear what Damascus has to offer.

Kurds also say they don't really understand the Ankara-Washington accord. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said June 4 they had reached preliminary agreement on a road map for Manbij. Turkish Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar said Turkish and US military officials also met regarding the Manbij plan June 12-13 in Stuttgart, Germany, and submitted a tentative agreement to their higher-ups.

[Texas Fossil]

Turkey only hears what they want to hear and then makes demands.

Assad and Kurds have both opened for negotiation. Honest? Reasonable? No way to know.

It is time for peace in Syria. But without Turkey. PERIOD.

Assad? Guess we will see.

Turkey? Elections are on Sunday the 24th. Who know what insane things Erdogan will do to try and win the election.

[Texas Fossil]

Syria Ping

[DIRTYSECRET]

Ok they get autonomy in Syria. The Kurds in Turkey will then do what? I’m waiting for them to rise up in Iran heh, heh. In Iraq they could control most of the oil. Question: Are they worth supporting? I see nothing to suggest Christian’s safety or Israel recognition.

[SunkenCiv]

The Three Amigos

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan meet in Sochi, Russia November 22, 2017. (photo credit: SPUTNIK/MIKHAIL METZEL/KREMLIN VIA REUTERS)