QAMISHLI, — The Democratic Union Party (PYD) reports that their leader, Saleh Mohammed, has confirmed that agreement was reached among factions of the Syrian opposition during a meeting held in Damascus on 25 June 2011, and that a joint statement will be released in the next few days.
Represented at this meeting were eleven Kurdish political parties, the National Democratic Assembly of Parties in Syria, the Leftist Marxist Parties Assembly, and independent representatives and national figures in political, cultural and socio-economic aspects of Syrian life. Strenuous efforts were made by everyone, including PYD, to reach this historic achievement for Syria in general, and also for Kurds in Western Kurdistan and elsewhere in the country.
Saleh Mohammed reported that the forthcoming document includes a review of the status quo, and consideration of practices of the authorities and the security services, and the need to unite people of Syria in the movement of mass democracy, until they have their full democratic rights and democracy in the country, and it extends invitations to all segments of society to join this popular movement, and to co-ordinate with the co-ordinating body for democratic national change.
He said the General Authority for the Damascus Declaration did not join the meeting for special reasons, but the Kurdish parties who are part of the Damascus Declaration attended and agreed to the document. He explained that a place was retained for the Damascus Declaration on the Executive Bureau and the co-ordination body which will represent the leadership of the democratic national opposition in the near future.
Saleh Mohammed said that the document includes eight essential points, including an item on the Kurdish presence in Syria that recognises the existence of the Kurdish nation in Syria as part of the fundamental and historic fabric of the Syrian nation, and of the importance of working together on the passage of the constitution which requires a democratic solution dedicated to the Kurdish issue within the unity of the country’s land and people. This does not contradict the fact that Syria is an integral part of the Arab world. The revised document will be published by the Preparatory Committee.
Saleh Mohammed described the meeting as “historic”, and the document as “an historic document.” He pointed out that it was the first time that agreement had been reached between the Kurdish parties, the national parties and national Arab figures in Syria to plan the future of a free democracy, without a denial of the Kurdish presence and their oppression. He added: “There is no doubt that this is the first step. We hope to be able to accomplish what is stated in the document and realize the unity of the Syrian people in all components of their diversity, on the basis of recognition of each other.
Saleh Mohammed stressed that, for its part, the PYD will do its best to bring the statement in the document into practice, and they hope that all other parties do the same, because this is a sensitive phase for the country.