Kurds in Aleppo under heavy attack by Syrian government – dozens of civilians killed and risk of an even greater massacre
Armed groups affiliated with the Syrian transitional government are attacking Kurdish-dominated neighbourhoods in Aleppo. Dozens of civilian casualties have already been reported.
These attacks are exacerbating the fragile situation in Syria. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria demonstrates that peaceful and democratic coexistence between peoples is possible. However, under the influence of Turkey, the Syrian transitional government favours an anti-Kurdish and anti-democratic stance. The recent meeting between the Turkish Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister of the Syrian transitional government in Paris, as well as numerous visits by Turkish officials, including the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), and their aggressive statements, are no coincidence.
The regional implications of these developments in Syria are significant. In his New Year’s message regarding Syria, Abdullah Öcalan rightly pointed out that it is crucial for Turkey to play a mediating and constructive role in this process. The dialogue process in Turkey, and in particular the transformation into a sustainable peace process, must not be jeopardised.
In the context of global developments, there is also an urgent need for action here. The opportunity to bring peace and democracy to one of the world’s key regions of war and crisis must not be wasted. The international community must use all political options at its disposal to exert pressure on the Syrian transitional government and Turkey. In the context of Turkey in particular, the European Union must also use all mechanisms to ensure that Turkey ends its intervention in Syria and promotes the dialogue process in Turkey.
The EUTCC condemns the attacks by armed groups of the Syrian transitional government on Kurdish-dominated neighbourhoods and calls on the international community to take immediate action. Turkey is called upon to abandon its anti-Kurdish stance in the context of Syria and to make more significant contribution to the dialogue process in its own country.
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EU Turkey Civic Commission
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