Syrian Kurds want a federal system under Damascus

Expectations and tensions are high that the Kurdish parties in Northern Syria will asset the establishment of a federal system. The three territories taken back by the Kurds will be its foundation and the seat of power will be at Damascus. Sources on the ground say that the Kurdish leaders seek to establish an autonomous state granting equal rights to its citizens.

The RT report says that the new territory will take on the name, the Northern Federation of Syria. It will cover a 400-mile stretch of land along the borders of Syria and Turkey, stretching from Iraq to the Euphrates River. Idris Nassan, a spokesman for the autonomous border of Kobani, says that the federal system will protect the "legitimate rights" of the people, and all the ethnic communities in the region will be represented.

Nassan adds that federalism means autonomy, and not separatism. It will also help to end the war that has devastated the country and caused the exile of millions of its citizens. He believes that these factors will gain the support of world powers like the U.S. and Russia for the movement.

BBC News adds that even before the formal declaration of a federal system, three regions have already enjoyed autonomy for some time: Afrin and Kobane in Aleppo province and Jazira in Hassakeh. Arab and Turkmen areas taken from the Islamic State will also be placed under the new federal system. Kurds constitute seven to ten percent of the 24.5 million-strong Syrian population.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera, UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said that the peace talks in Geneva, which involve Syria and Turkey, will inevitably bring up the topic of federalism.

However, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad continues to reject any political change that will happen to his country. One of his senior advisers is openly advocating putting an end to the idea of federalism.

Tags

Syria, Syrian Kurds, federal system, Damascus, Northern Federation of Syria

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