Nuri Brimo: “We Want a Secular, Federal, United and Democratic Syria. The Disintegration of Syria is not to the Advantage of Any Nation Living in Syria”.
We talked with Nuri Brimo, Information Officer of the Democratic Kurdish Party of Syria whose Kurdish name is Partiya Demokrat a Kurdi li Suriye and is shortly known as Al-Part, on his expectation and suggestions for a resolution regarding Syria’s future.
ORSAM: First of all, could you provide us some information about yourself?
Nuri Brimo: I am from the Afrin region of Syria. I am the information officer of the Democratic Kurdish Party of Syria. At the same time I am a member of the party in Syria. From 1982 until 1999 I worked as a chemistry teacher. They dismissed me from teaching in 1995 for becoming a member of the Kurdish party in Syria. I was removed from duty by the Syrian intelligence. I have numerous books and academic works. I write political writings in Arab and Kurdish newspapers. I particularly work in the field of human rights. I concentrate more on the issues of democratization and Kurds.
ORSAM: A few months ago some Kurdish parties agreed to unite under a single umbrella party in Syria. But it is still evident that problems exist between these parties. How do you define these relations?
Nuri Brimo: When the events in Syria began, as Kurds we wanted to remain on a single line. On 28 January we formed the Kurdish National Council. Our goal was to gather the Kurds under a single roof, to stand against the Syrian regime and to make a revolution in Syria. There is a large-scale population structure in Syria. Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Alawites, Sunnis and other populations live together without any problems. But unfortunately the Sunni Arabs did not accept us as opposition and did not work together with us. This does not only apply to us. At the same time they neither accepted the opposition Alawites, nor the Assyrians or the Turkmens. Only the Sunni Arabs were taken in to the Syrian National Council. This policy is wrong. They are conducting the policy for their selves. We believe that the problems in Syria must be resolved by working together for the entire Syrian community.
ORSAM: We know that the problems between the Syrian National Council and the Kurdish National Council have not been resolved. Have the problems within the Kurdish National Council been resolved?
Nuri Brimo: The Syrian opposition says that the Kurds have split and have problems of their own. But we are not of the same opinion. We say that we can work together with them. The problems within the Kurdish National Council are very small. We also said that we would work together with the PYD for our future, but we are trying to make policy that remains far from weapons.
ORSAM: It is said that good relations exist between the PYD and the Assad Regime. Is this true?
Nuri Brimo: They are asking us whether or not the Kurdish National Council has close relations with Turkey. We are only trying to explain to the PYD that Syria and Iran is not our friend.
ORSAM: According to you, will the Assam regime collapse anytime soon?
Nuri Brimo: I am speaking on behalf of the Kurds. Bashar Assad should have been overthrown two years ago. Now Bashar Assad will not be taken down without disrupting, disintegrating Syria. The war in Syria always continues. The Sunni Arabs and Alawites no longer have the chance to live together in Syria anymore. A battle will take place between them. If Assad weakens, the Alawites will establish an Alawite state on the coastline in Tartus and Latakia. The war in Syria is always a gain for the US, Israel and Russia. The US has not killed as many men in Afghanistan as much as the men Bashar Assad killed in Syria. The US and Israel will give the Alawite state to Bashar Assad as a reward. The US will recognize the Alawite state, because the US regards the Alawite state as opposing Islam and believes that it will stand against terror. The Assad regime is fighting against groups such as the Nusra Front. In some sense this is also like the war of the US and Russia.
ORSAM: As Kurds, what is your expectation on Syria’s future? Do you want a federal region or a separate state for the Kurds?
Nuri Brimo: We want a secular, federal, united and democratic Syria. The disintegration of Syria is not to the advantage of any nation living in Syria, but there must certainly be a federal structure. We do not want each area to turn into a monopoly structure like the Ba’ath Party. All the communities should be recognized and their rights should be granted to them. We are only concerned about the settlement. The Iraq experience is an example for us.
ORSAM: If there will be a Kurdish federal region in Syria, which cities will it include?
Nuri Brimo: In any case, a single united federal region is not necessary. Like the US, a federal government could exist in each city.
ORSAM: In which cities can it be?
Nuri Brimo: It could be cities like Afrin, Kobani, Jazeera (Kamishli, Amude, Dirbasiye, Hassakah, Serekaniye). Also nearly 500 thousand Kurds live in Damascus. They are the inhabitants of that area, the Hay Al-Ekrad region. They have migrated from the area of Jazeera while those in the center of Aleppo have come from Afrin and Kobani.
ORSAM: Can the problems in Syria be resolved through the talks to be held between the Syrian regime and opposition? Will these talks result in success?
Nuri Brimo: This is a good idea; however the possibility of reaching success is very low, because it has become too late to do this.
ORSAM: The Turkish community started recognizing the Syrian Kurds, but there is fear in Turkey regarding the issue of Kurds in Syria. There are doubts on Turkey’s approach towards the Syrian Kurds. It is believed that the Syrian Kurds constantly bear hostility towards Turkey. Can we ask your ideas concerning this issue?
Nuri Brimo: As a Syrian Kurd, a member of the KDP and the general view of the Kurdish National Council and the Syrian Kurds, I can say that we never saw Turkey as an enemy. The PKK is a different matter. PKK is Turkey’s own domestic affair, but if an agreement is reached between the PKK and Turkey, this will be a benefit for all the Kurds. A border of 700 km exists between Turkey and Syria. We are breathing the same air. We will be very pleased with the establishment of a friendship bond. President Barzani is helping us. If not for Turkey’s assent, how will these aids reach us. The border gates of Afrin (Kirikhan) and Kobani (Islahiye) should be opened. We can only receive the aids from the Kamishli door. The area of Hammam in Syria from Hatay’s town of Reyhanli is only 5 km. In the past Hammam was a very strategic location. The Ba’ath Regime closed it. This place is the closest road to Gaziantep and Kilis. If this door is opened, the community of Gaziantep can directly go to Syria. The triangle of Afrin, Kilis, and Gaziantep are important. What we want from Turkey is for these doors to be opened.
ORSAM: Who controls these doors? In the area where these doors exist, who is powerful in arms?
Nuri Brimo: We are powerful. There is the existence of the Kurdish National Council. We believe that Turkey and the Kurds in Syria must establish a dialogue. There is a railway route from Istanbul to Islahiye. It extends all the way to Afrin. It is the extension of the Europe-Baghdad Railway. It extended all the way from Afrin to Aleppo, Hama, Humus, Damascus, and from Amman to Mecca. But this road is closed right now.
ORSAM: Thank you.
* This interview has been conducted on 18 February 2013 by ORSAM specialists in the city of Arbil of Iraq.
