Syrian Kurds declare federal region amid wide criticism

The main Syrian Kurdish group declares a federal region in Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria, a move that is immediately rejected by both the government and opposition.

Nawaf Khalil, an official with the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, tells The Associated Press that the announcement was made at a conference being held in the town of Rmeilan in the northeastern province of Hassakeh.

The move is rejected by the Syrian Foreign Ministry describing it as “unconstitutional and worthless.” It warns against any attempt to encroach upon the integrity of Syrian territory.

The Syrian National Coalition, one of the main Syrian opposition groups, also says it rejects such unilateral declarations and warned of any attempt to form autonomous regions that, “confiscate the will of the Syrian people.”

Khalil says participants in the Rmeilan meeting have approved a “democratic federal system for Rojava-Northern Syria.” Rojava is a Kurdish word that refers to three distinct enclaves, or cantons, under Kurdish control in northern Syria: Jazira, Kobani and Afrin.

Khalil says participants who include Turkmen, Arabs, Christian and Kurds in northern Syria said after they approved the draft that they are now preparing a final statement that will be read later today.

“Federal and Democratic Syria is a guarantee of coexistence and brotherly relations between people,” reads a banner posted online from inside the room of the Rmeilan conference.

Salih Muslim, the co-president of the PYD, says by telephone that those meeting “are setting up the basis on how constituencies will deal with each other.”

— AP