PKK plans to use 'Syria’s Future' party to join talks

By Selma Kasap

ANKARA

After PKK/PYD-YPG terrorist group was not allowed to take part in Syrian peace talks in Geneva and Astana, the group now aims to use the newly-launched political party, "Syria's Future", in order to participate in the negotiations.

"Syria's Future" party is trying to create a similar structure as Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey.

Unlike the expressions of "self-governance" or "canton" associated with the PKK, "Syria's Future" party claims to use a discourse of defending the territorial integrity of Syria.

Good relations with the neighbors, the unity of Syria and rejecting all separatist projects were among the so-called decisions taken at the congress of the party.

Ibrahim al-Qaftan, the chairman of the party, said Turkey and Iraq are their neighbors and have no problems with them. This shows the party is making efforts to take part at the negotiating table in Astana and Geneva.

After the U.S.'s efforts to create a structure like Syrian Democratic Forces linked to the PKK terrorist group failed, the U.S. launched "Syria's Future" party in a bid to reduce Turkey's pressure.

According to sources in Syria's northeastern Al-Hasakah province, U.S. officials helped establish the so-called "Syria's Future" at congress held in Al-Hasakah on March 27.

The U.S. officials discussed the new party’s launch during recent meetings with YPG/PKK members.

- PKK's links to 'Syria's Future'

Although posters of PKK's jailed head Abdullah Ocalan were banned at the party's congress, the logo of the "Syria's Future" and the 10-point party program about the political, social, economic, legislative, press, education, culture, ecologic defense, internal security and foreign policies recalled nine dimensions of the democratic autonomy prepared by the terrorist leader.

Al-Qaftan had been a member of Syria’s Ba’ath Party in Manbij before the Syria conflict erupted in 2011. He assumed the presidency of Manbij’s local council after the district was occupied by the YPG/PKK terrorist group.

Hefrin Halaf, who joined the YPG/PKK in 2016, was elected secretary-general of the new party.

Unlike other organizations launched by the YPG/PKK, "Syria's Future" party does not have a co-president.

The party’s 81 executive board members include representatives from Raqqah, Tal Abyad, Ayn al-Arab (Kobane), Deir ez-Zor, Manbij, Afrin, Idlib and Aleppo.

Members of the party’s executive board appear to have been drawn from the ranks of the YPG and the PKK terrorist groups.

The YPG/PKK’s administrative structure in Syria consists of three “regions” and six “cantons”.

The group gives special importance to Raqqah, which remains under its control, and refers to the line linking Tal Rifaat to Manbij as the “Shahba Canton”.