James Jatras: Kurdish federalism threat to Syria’s integrity

Press TV has interviewed James Jatras, a former US Senate foreign policy analyst in Washington, to discuss a unilateral decision by the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) to establish a federal system in the north.

A rough transcription of the interview follows.

Press TV: What has led the Kurdish groups in northern Syria to actually declare federal independence at such a juncture in time?

Jatras: The negotiations that have begun this week are supposed to address the political future of Syria including its constitutional arrangements and I believe that the Kurdish community as Syrian citizens but people who are in control of the territory where they are concentrated along the Turkish border feel that they need to make their move, lay their marker down saying this is what they want.

It is interesting the reaction from Washington condemning it. It does seem odd that Washington now is suddenly very concerned about the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria, something we have been routinely violating. It is also interesting that almost everybody has criticized the move. It seems that President Assad and President Erdogan have finally found something they can agree on.

Press TV: Opposition to the decision by Kurds in northern Syria has been almost quick and unanimous. The government, that is the Syrian government, Turkey, the US, Russia, and the Syrian opposition all have rejected the declaration of federal independence. Now why do you think that is?

Jatras: Because certainly you can expect the Syrian government would object to it because they would see it as a potential threat to the territorial integrity of Syria. Turkey would be against it because they would see it as a precedent for Kurds inside Turkey. Of course in Iraq the Kurds in northern Iraq already have autonomy and also Iran will not be too thrilled with the idea of any kind of nation's Kurdish state. So there is also … reasons that the established states in the region would be against it.

Press TV: I want to get your predictions. What will the future hold for the Kurds if this declaration of independence is rejected, either physically, by military force that is, or politically?

Jatras: It is a declaration of federalization and so far Damascus says they will not accept it. However, there are many degrees of self-rule including some form of local rural autonomy that perhaps at the end of the day Damascus might accept as part of the constitutional arrangement. Remember these Kurds are saying they are going to do this within Syria, within a sovereign Syria but if there is no agreement, they would have to consider the option of independence and certainly Damascus does not want to see that.

My guess is given how important it is for Damascus and the Kurds to cooperate against the terrorist groups supported by Turkey and Saudi Arabia and so forth, some kind of an arrangement probably can be made but I am just guessing.

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