US Ambassador's 'One Nation, One Army' remarks disturb Syrian PKK

The latest statement regarding Syria by Thomas Barrack, the US Ambassador to Ankara and also the Special Envoy for Syria, has resonated throughout the region. Barrack clearly opposed the independent governance demands of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is spearheaded by the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, stating, 'We do not owe them the right to establish their own independent administration within a state. We are in favor of a one-country, one-nation, one-army approach.'

Barrack also noted that the negotiations between the SDF and the Damascus administration have been unsuccessful, warning that if they do not act quickly regarding integration, they could face further problems with both the Turkish and Syrian governments.

Following these remarks, a harsh reaction came from the SDF. In a statement, they demanded an inclusive constitution where all ethnic and sectarian groups living in Syria are represented equally, using the following expressions:

'We want to be a true partner in the reconstruction of Syria. This is only possible with a pluralistic constitution that guarantees the rights of everyone.'

'WE ARE NOT CALLING FOR FEDERALISM, BUT DECENTRALIZATION'

Riyad Dirar, Co-Chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political wing of the SDF, responded directly to Barrack's words. In his statement, Dirar said:

'We are not in favor of federalism, but decentralization. This system grants regions the right to establish their own local administrations while ensuring they remain connected to Damascus without breaking away from central institutions. This model will contribute to regional peace.'

İlham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations in Northeast Syria, also made a more diplomatic statement regarding the process, emphasizing the constructive role of international actors:'We welcome the support of the US and France for a political solution. However, the increasing hate speech and accusations of 'treason' in some recent official statements are causing the ground for dialogue to weaken. We hope that this process will move forward with a constructive approach.'