Federalism No Suitable Gov’t Model for Syria: Minister
DAMASCUS (Tasnim) – Syrian Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs Ali Haidar said those who think that a federal state could be a suitable government model to preserve Syria’s unity and sovereignty are “in error”.
“Everyone who is now talking about federalism as a political plan and identity for (Syria) is wrong,” Haidar told the Tasnim news agency on Wednesday.
He added that the government and the Arab country’s different ministries have a clear and positive view of “administrative decentralization in light of political unity” plan, which could settle differences in Syria.
Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, and Syrians can all remain Syrian and live peacefully with each other in accordance with terms and conditions of the plan, the Syrian minister further said.
Stressing that the country’s Kurdish people are part of the Syrian nation, he said, “We look at the issue of the Kurds in Syria as part of our national issue”.
Back in March, the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) claimed autonomy in the Kurdish-controlled areas and voted to create a federal system there at a conference in the town of Rmeilan in the northeastern province of Hasakah.
Later, Damascus rejected the unilateral decision, saying such a declaration is unconstitutional and has no political value.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.
According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.
