Thread by @RojavaNetwork

KCK Executive Council Co-chairman, Cemil Bayik: "The PKK's relationship with Syria has a historical basis. We also have relations with the Palestinian people and the Arab people. We do not forget them. Our relations with Hafez Assad and his family have also been close and warm."

Cemil Bayik: Although Bashar Assad's administration had a cold and negative approach to us due to what happened in Rojava, we did not take a similar approach. We tried to understand them. We want them to understand us too. We have never severed our relationship with Damascus

Cemil Bayik: We have always wanted the autonomous administration to solve their problems with Damascus. The most correct solution is the compromise between the autonomous administration and the government of Damascus.

Cemil Bayik: Syria cannot be a pre-2011 Syria. They also accepted this. The fact that they said they were considering a decentralized system opened a door of reconciliation with the autonomous administration.

Cemil Bayik: If there is mutual goodwill and flexibility, Damascus and the autonomous administration will agree on a solution. This is what will benefit the Kurds. The main power that does not want a solution between Damascus and Syria is Turkey.

Cemil Bayik: We hear that the Autonomous Administration and Damascus hold talks from time to time. We are pleased with it.Damascus must also abandon prejudices; Syria can become stronger with the Kurds.

Cemil Bayik: The Kurds will also get their basic rights in Syria, solve their problems and become one of the main forces of Syria. Damascus knows that if Rojava and NES had fallen into the hands of ISIS and Al-Qaeda, both Aleppo and Damascus would have fallen.

Cemil Bayik: Kurds, Arabs and Assyrians, who protected Rojava and Northern and Eastern Syria against ISIS and Al-Qaeda, ensured Damascus to survive with their struggle. It is known that the Kurds living in Aleppo also protected Aleppo with their resistance.

Cemil Bayik: The demand for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Syria is a just demand. We believe this will happen over time. The biggest foreign and occupying power is Turkey. Turkey occupied many areas. Turkey can occupy and annex some areas like Hatay.

Cemil Bayik: In the fight against ISIS, PKK sent some of our military forces in Turkey to Kobanî. Again, hundreds, even thousands of young people crossed the fence from Bakure Kurdistan and Turkey to Rojava. They played an important role in the defeat of ISIS.

Cemil Bayik: Ankara has recently been making propaganda through the media that the PKK is in the process of being demolished. Every government for decades has said the same thing. The Turkish army has been attacking for 6 months; the guerrilla also resists selflessly.

Cemil Bayik: The PKK is a half-century-old freedom movement. It receives the support of the vast majority of Kurds in 4 parts of Kurdistan and abroad. It has come to this day by fighting against all kinds of difficulties for decades.

Cemil Bayik: The Turkish state always says the number of guerrillas at least 5 times less. We have more than 1500 guerrilla forces within the borders of Turkey. Our strengths in other areas are also more than 2500.

Cemil Bayik: Our war is not just a military war. With the combined effect of political, social, military, cultural and diplomatic struggle, the genocidal Kurdish policy of the Turkish state will be destroyed.