Press Statement

A new chapter of the Syrian crisis

On 9/10/2019 the Turkish government announced an aggression on Syrian territory. This aggression was launched without justification, pretext, mandate or support. It is a brutal war and an expression of law of jungle imposed by unjust and unscrupulous force which is immoral. On the first day, this aggresion led to military and civilian casualties, including children and women.
We have provided all facilities to protect the borders, to ensure the success of the security mechanism and to withdraw Turkish state’s claims that its security is threatened. Under US supervision, we worked to withdraw from border areas and withdraw Turkish pretexts. We have addressed a speech calling for peace, understanding, working for open-mindedness to all parties for a political solution on all Syrian soil, for continuation of unity of people in Syria and fulfillment of their wishes and demands.
We know that this rush of aggression on our territory is an export of internal crisis experienced by the government headed by Erdogan, so we call for vigilance and caution of the objectives of this aggression and its consequences, which will be disastrous for Syrian people and the world.
The first results of this aggression will be reflected on detainees of ISIS, and loss of control over them due to chaos, which will lead to return of terrorism again.
The call by some to hand over the issue of ISIS and its prisoners to Turkey is a call to extortion once again in the name of this terrorist organization, which we have information about its coordination with Turkish officials.
The second of these results is Erdogan’s endeavor, during which he told the United Nations that he will settle down millions of refugees in border areas, which means a demographic change that we do not tolerate or accept. This settlement will lead to new tragedies and open a never-ending conflict. It is known that we are not against safe and dignified voluntary return of refugees to their original areas according international law.
Peace, and we are its proponents, is not in this way, which depends on imposition of things by force, and the force has only achieved tragedies and destruction for Syrians.
We call for dialogue, we call for participation of all in political solution, and we are open-minded to all parties to reach peace, stability and security. We therefore call for:

1. Stopping the sinful aggression and calling upon the Security Council to confirm this.
2. Taking deterrent procedures against Turkish government because of its aggression on the Syrian border and because of its intervention in repressive practices, demographic change, imposition of Turkish education and language on areas in northern Syria.
3. Calling for a no-fly zone and preventing any air attacks on northern Syria.
4. Continuation of relief and assistance to Syrians suffering from effects of war and Turkish aggression.
5. Seeking for participation of representatives of self-administration and people of north and east of Syria in political solution and constitutional committee because our exception from these actions, encouraged Turkish aggression on our regions.

Syrian Democratic Council
October 10, 2019
Brussels, Belgium