All posts tagged: pkk

Kurdish autonomy: A shattered dream? – Reporters

Kurdish autonomy: A shattered dream? – Reporters

Published by Sam Flores

For the Kurdish people, history seems to repeat itself. Kurdish forces are an asset for the West when allies are needed in the region, but left aside when political choices need to be made. The agreement signed at the end of January between Damascus and the Syrian Kurds dealt a blow to the dream of a greater Kurdistan. Our team reports from Syria and Iraq. On January 30, after several weeks of fighting, Syrian Kurds and the Syrian central government signed a ceasefire deal. Both sides agreed to the progressive integration of the military forces and administration of Rojava – the Kurdish autonomous territory – into the Syrian state. It was a setback for Syrian Kurds, who signed to avoid a bloodbath. Today, what are the hopes of the Kurdish peoples, spread out between Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran? Is the long-lasting dream of a greater Kurdistan still possible? FRANCE 24’s Pauline Godart, Amar Al-Hameedawi and Dida Faridoon report. Source link

France, Germany, UK, US urge all parties to ‘strictly adhere’ to Syria ceasefire

France, Germany, UK, US urge all parties to ‘strictly adhere’ to Syria ceasefire

Published by Sam Flores

The governments of France, Germany, UK and the US on Tuesday welcome the 15-day extension of a ceasefire between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced over the weekend. “We call upon all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire ‍and to exercise their ​utmost restraint. We urge all external parties to join ‌us in pursuit of peace and de-escalation ‍of violence,” the four nations said in a joint statement published by the UK government. The joint statement was released following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, German Minister of State Serap Guler, and US special envoy Tom Barrack. Syria’s government and Kurdish forces on Saturday extended a truce by 15 days after the Kurds lost large areas to government forces during weeks of clashes. Read moreSyria opens humanitarian corridor to Kurdish town of Kobane after ceasefire extended Days later, France, Germany, UK and the US called on “all parties to swiftly agree to a permanent ceasefire, and to resume as soon as possible negotiations …

Syria’s government says it has struck ceasefire deal with Kurdish-led forces

Syria’s government says it has struck ceasefire deal with Kurdish-led forces

Published by Sam Flores

The ‍Syrian government and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire ​on all fronts on Sunday after days of fighting as ​the army advanced into Kurdish-held territories in the northeast. Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi said he agreed to the deal to avoid a broader war. He made the decision after deadly clashes in the Syrian city of Raqa Sunday between Kurdish-led forces and local fighters loyal to Damascus, and fighting this month between the Kurds and government forces. The agreement will also see the Kurdish administration and forces integrate into the state after months of stalled negotiations on the issue. But it marks a blow for the minority, which has long held ambitions of preserving the de facto autonomy they had exercised over areas they held for over a decade. Sharaa announced the agreement to reporters on Sunday. He said had had been scheduled to meet Abdi, who heads the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but that it had been postponed until Monday due to poor weather. “In …

Erdogan’s political fate may be determined by Turkey’s Kurds

Erdogan’s political fate may be determined by Turkey’s Kurds

Published by Sam Flores

Editor’s Note: A version of this story first appeared in CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the region’s biggest stories. Sign up here. Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN  —  Turkey’s persecuted pro-Kurdish party has emerged as a kingmaker in the country’s upcoming election, playing a decisive role that may just tip the balance enough to unseat two-decade ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In a key setback to the Turkish president and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) last month announced that it would not put forward its own presidential candidate, a move analysts say allows its supporters to vote for Erdogan’s main rival. “We are facing a turning point that will shape the future of Turkey and (its) society,” said the HDP in a statement on March 23. “To fulfill our historical responsibility against the one-man rule, we will not field a presidential candidate in (the) May 14 elections.” It is a twist of irony for the Turkish strongman, who spent the better …