RIHA - Speaking about the UN General Assembly, PYD foreign affairs spokesman Salih Muslim said, "Foreign powers took Shara from Idlib and placed him in Damascus. Here he fulfilled many tasks given to him. They wanted to give legitimacy to Shara," he said. 

 

The 80th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) was held in New York between 23-29 September. Many heads of state and political representatives attended the assembly convened with the Palestinian agenda. While the attacks against civilians by the forces loyal to the transitional government in Syria continued, President of the Transitional Government Ahmed al-Shara attended the meeting as "head of state". Al-Shara also met with AKP Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. These meetings and receptions legitimised Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), an alliance of al-Qaeda-affiliated paramilitary groups, and its leader Ahmed al-Shara.

 

 

Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) Foreign Relations Spokesperson Salih Muslim made evaluations on the UN General Assembly meeting. 

 

Speaking about Shara's participation in the UN General Assembly meeting with the title of "head of state", Muslim pointed out that international powers aimed to give legitimacy to Shara. Stating that Shara was brought to the head of the Transitional Government for the peace agreement between Syria and Israel, Salih Muslim said: "Just as they gave legitimacy to Erdoğan, they wanted to give the same legitimacy to Shara. Shara is someone who is already under their command. Foreign powers took Shara from Idlib and placed him in Damascus. He fulfilled many tasks assigned to him here."

 

'HTS IS NOT HOMOGENEOUS'

 

Stating that civilian massacres continued in Latakia and Suwayda by the groups affiliated to the Syrian Transitional Government in a process in which Shara was seeking legitimacy in the international arena, Salih Muslim stated that the same transitional government is not a homogenous structure. Stating that the groups carrying out the massacres are especially affiliated with Turkey, Salih Muslim said: "These groups are behind the massacre of Alawites on the Syrian coast. The same people killed more than 2 thousand people in Suweyda. They try to take control of the region whenever they have the opportunity. Shara cannot control these groups. The forces that brought Shara to power are pressuring him to get rid of these groups, but it will not be easy for Shara to get rid of them. Because these groups are in the majority. Shara could not even risk an agreement with Israel because he was afraid of these groups. If he really wants to get rid of them, he must prepare for a big war. Shara will ignore these massacres, because Shara's conflict with these groups will be his downfall." 

 

'NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN TERMS OF AUTONOMOUS ADMINISTRATION'

 

Salih Müslim stated that Shara's speech at the UN General Assembly as "head of state" did not change anything for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, adding that foreign powers were trying to shine Shara. Salih Muslim said that the international community supports a decentralised, decentralised administration in Syria. 

 

'LEGITIMACY COMES FROM THE PEOPLE'

 

Referring to US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack's "legitimacy" statement about Erdoğan before the meeting between the AKP President and US President Donald Trump, Salih Muslim emphasised that Erdoğan's legitimacy is a controversial issue. Salih Muslim concluded: "What we know is that everyone gets legitimacy from their own people, state and party. This is how legitimacy is gained, this is a normal legitimacy. In order to gain international legitimacy, the UN must recognise it, but if someone gets legitimacy from another head of state, it means that he will not review any step he will take, or at least he will not have to calculate it. Erdoğan has been given a credit as a person. The legitimacy Trump talks about means 'we are behind him whatever he does'. This is a legitimacy that only benefits Erdoğan's personality. Turkey, on the other hand, has no interest. Legitimacy comes from the people, but it seems that this will no longer be the case in Turkey. Even if there are no more elections in Turkey, Erdoğan will be seen as a leader in the eyes of the US or NATO. It would be very dangerous to support a dictator." 

 

MA / Sema Bingöl