Salih Muslim in Moscow: We'll represent resisting peoples
MOSCOW (DİHA) - PYD Co-president Salih Muslim and his delegation have arrived in Moscow for the second round of Moscow talks. Muslim said he would represent the peoples resisting ISIS.
The second Moscow meeting today follows the failure of the talks organised in Geneva last year with the intention of ending the conflict in Syria, that excluded the Kurds and other opposition circles. PYD (Democratic Union Party) Co-president Salih Muslim arrived a day early in Moscow to attend a celebration organised by Kurds in Russia to celebrate the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan.
Muslim said that while 6 representatives from the Kurdish cantons should have come to Moscow, one had been unable to do so on account of visa problems, adding that 2 PYD representatives, an Arab an Assyrian and a Kurd would represent the peoples resisting ISIS. Apart from Salih Muslim the delegation comprises PYD France representative
Dr. Halit İsa, Cizîrê (Jazireh) Canton deputy foreign minister Emine Ossi, Cizîrê Canton Human Rights Minister Sanharib Barson and Cizîrê Food and Logistic Council Minister Fener El-Kihêt. A delegation from the Syrian regime has also arrived in Moscow. According to the Iranian news agency the Syrian delegation is expected to meet opposition representatives on Wednesday.
Syrian opposition leader Louai Hussein is expected to attend the meetings in Moscow, while Syrian President Bashar Assad has said it is important to reach agreement on the framework and mechanism of dialogue. The foreign-based coalition of opposition groups has announced it will not attend the second round of talks in Moscow, which will commence today and end on Thursday.
Recognition of Kurds is important
At the first round of talks in Moscow, although there was no concrete outcome, it was significant as it marked the first occasion Kurds had been present on the international political arena.
Thaw in West-Russia tension may affect talks
It is thought the signing last week of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the United States and a thaw in Russia-US relations due to the improving situation in Ukraine may have an effect on the talks in Moscow.
The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, which did not attend the first round of talks, has rejected Moscow's invitation, although its component parties may attend.
(nt)
