The Democratic Union Party  (PYD) release this statement yesterday responding to threats from the Turkish government about intervening militarily in Syria:

Public Statement

Dear Sir or Madam,

In the last few days, some officials of the Turkish government issued threatening statements, which resulted in the mobilisation of Turkish troops near the Syrian border. We, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), would like to clarify to our people and the international community our stance on this matter.

As a part of the political movement in the Democratic Self-administration of Rojava (Western Kurdistan – Syria), we strive to respect international law, including agreements on international borders and peaceful and neighbourly relations among states.

Contrary to what the president of the Turkish Republic has suggested in his recent speech, we do not seek to form an independent state. However, we work, and will continue to work, towards the consolidation of the democratic self-administration, which we believe to be the most appropriate model of governance in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious Syria. This is a Syrian affair and neighbouring countries do not possess the right to intervene.

We, both the PYD and our partners, have repeatedly emphasised that we do not intend to cause problems or troubles for neighbouring countries. We, therefore, hope that neighbouring countries would be committed to the “UN Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States.”

We are co-operating with the international coalition in the fight against terrorism, and are fully committed to international law. We also have mutual allies with the Turkish state in this war against terrorism. Accordingly, any attack on the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and their allies in Rojava, serves the agendas of the terrorist gangs.

We firmly believe that any military intervention in Rojava would have serious regional and international repercussions, and may further complicate the political situation in Syria and the entire Middle East, threating international peace and security. We hope that the great powers, Turkey’s allies members of NATO, especially the US and France, would act to prevent any reckless Turkish decision to intervene in Rojava, which still constitutes part of the Syrian state territory.

The YPG and their allies have been defending Rojava areas against the forces of the dictatorial regime of Syria and other terrorist gangs. They have made countless sacrifices and are prepared to resist and repel any aggression from any party.

We aim to establish a democratic political system, within the framework of the unity of the Syrian state. We seek to build good relations with neighbours and other nations in the region, based on the principle of mutual respect. We are part of the international coalition in the war against terrorism.

We also renew our commitment to international treaties and conventions, and call on the neighbouring Turkish government to respect international law and to refrain from its provocative actions and repeated threats of direct military intervention. We appeal to the great powers to prevent a potential impetuous Turkish intervention in Rojava.

The Co-chairmanship of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)

01/07/2015