Following the overthrow of the 61 years Baath regime in Syria on 8 December, an interim government was formed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). While many countries gave the impression that they would recognise HTS, which is on the list of terrorist organisations of the European Union and many other countries, as the legitimate government, HTS started to announce its "red lines". While the attacks of Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA) affiliated to it against North and East Syria continue, attacks, torture and kidnappings are on the rise in areas where Alawites live densely such as Latakia, Tartus and Homs. Israel, on the other hand, continues to advance in Syria, which it entered from the south.

 

For a lasting peace in Syria, where conflicts are still ongoing, the SDF proposed the governance model established in North and East Syria to the whole country, while the Druze demanded a federation.

 

Hakan Tahmaz, President of the Peace Foundation, discussed the current situation in Syria and the conditions for a lasting peace.

 

Tahmaz noted that after HTS took control of Damascus, they moved their administration from Idlib to this city and started to make nice things, and said that human rights violations were also committed there, although it is a small city. Stating that the process that led to Assad's departure is directly linked to the kind of Syria designed by global and regional powers.

 

Tahmaz stated that it is a question mark what the social response of Colani's discourses will be and added that the 13-year war has created great polarisations. Tahmaz reminded that although the war lasted shorter in Iraq, the internal tensions have not ended and emphasised that every step to be taken without knowing the value of time will not end the troubles in the Middle East. Tahmaz stressed that the only option for Syria is dialogue

 

REGIONAL PEACE

 

Tahmaz said, "If peace or a sustainable system is to be established in Syria, the demands of the Kurds and Druze should be taken seriously." He emphasised that the system implemented in North and East Syria has achievements that can be taken as an example in the reconstruction of Syria. The process should be determined by Syrians and Syria's political dynamics said Tahmaz and added: "In a multi-identity Syria, the model implemented in North and East Syria is a model that can get the consent of the society. While in the 19th and 20th centuries everything was determined from the center, today I think these systems are blocked. The issue cannot be looked at from a point that is reduced to the centralisation of armed forces as Turkey mentions. The PYD can lay down its arms. But afterwards, will the people there be represented on social and political grounds? Will a system be created with their consent? It is necessary to design models based on the universal achievements of humanity. A model like the one in Turkey, which is created on the basis of monism, by eroding all constitutional achievements and ignoring differences, will lead to the waste of the prices paid for 13 years. If HTS is under the illusion that it is the will that sent Assad away in 12 days, it will make the job more difficult. If a model in which pluralism and local governments are empowered is not adopted, good things will not happen for the region."

 

ÖCALAN'S ROLE

 

Stating that the developing process in Turkey regarding PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is also related to this, Tahmaz continued as follows: "I think the calls made are valuable. Öcalan said, 'If the conditions are created, I have the theoretical and practical power to change this phase from the basis of conflict and violence to a legal and political ground'. Everyone who does not want to make things difficult wants to use this power. Anyone who claims to do something about an issue for which every section of society has paid such a great price is asked to do so. This is not a difficult task, we will not create these conditions. Ankara is at the forefront of the will to create these conditions. I think this is being tested. 'We are preparing a proposal for disarmament in Kobanê' cannot be said out of the blue. This is part of the process. But the government is prolonging the negotiation process because it cannot steer the course as it wants. We know from the solution process that Öcalan's speech does not harm the establishment of a peace environment, on the contrary, it strengthens it. What harm can it do to say 'Show this will' to those who say 'We can show will'. But if they want something unconditional, the state mind knows that the chances of this happening are very slim."

 

'PLURALISM PAVES THE WAY FOR PEACE'

 

Stating that the recent Iraqi experience should be taken into consideration, Tahmaz said: "In the past, sitting in Ankara, it was attempted to create a red line in Iraq. Iraq is still not stabilised. When you exclude any social segment from the management mechanisms, stability cannot be achieved there. If efforts are made to establish a pluralist, decentralised administration in Syria, this will have important social and psychological repercussions for peace in Turkey. Turkey must stop seeing the Kurds as a survival problem for itself. You may be politically against it, but if it is the reality of the country, it must be on the table. This is where the forces of democracy for peace should focus. Let's vote positively here, if we support a pluralist and decentralised administration, we can pave the way for peace. Because it is pluralism that paves the way for social peace."

 

MA / Tolga Güney