SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Russia and Turkey pressed Kurds to engage with the Syrian government in Damascus and abandon separatist ambition after discussing the future of Syria together with Iran, a statement said on Wednesday.
In a joint statement issued after talks in Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey and Iran said they supported Syria’s territorial integrity, according to Reuters.
They also rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground and were concerned with increased activity by separatist groups east of the Euphrates river, Reuters reported.
Some Kurdish leaders have sought a federal solution to the issue of their status, but Damascus has so far shown no willingness to discuss the idea.
The Kurds have been under pressure to give up arms and control over their territory in Syria’s northeast.
Turkey, which regards groups such as the People’s Protection Units (YPG) as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has over the last few months threatened to carry out an incursion to push them out of the area.
Russia has prevented that by military maneuvers in the area held by the Kurds, Reuters cited Syrian government sources as saying. Moscow had also stepped up airstrikes against Turkey backed rebels in Idlib region where Ankara has also sent troops to ward off a new Russian-backed government offensive.
