The governments of France, Germany, UK and the US on Tuesday welcome the 15-day extension of a ceasefire between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced over the weekend.
"We call upon all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and to exercise their utmost restraint. We urge all external parties to join us in pursuit of peace and de-escalation of violence," the four nations said in a joint statement published by the UK government.
The joint statement was released following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, German Minister of State Serap Guler, and US special envoy Tom Barrack.
Syria's government and Kurdish forces on Saturday extended a truce by 15 days after the Kurds lost large areas to government forces during weeks of clashes.
Read moreSyria opens humanitarian corridor to Kurdish town of Kobane after ceasefire extended
Days later, France, Germany, UK and the US called on "all parties to swiftly agree to a permanent ceasefire, and to resume as soon as possible negotiations aiming at the peaceful and sustainable integration of northeast Syria into a unitary and sovereign state that effectively respects and protects the rights of all its citizens".
The statement came as the Syrian government on Tuesday said it hopes to hold new round of integration talks with Kurdish forces as early as today, an official told Reuters.
The talks would focus on practical ways to implement the ceasefire agreement mediated by the US, the official said.
Syrian clashes with Kurds 'setback' to Turkey peace process
The recent clashes between Syria's military and Kurdish forces are a "setback" and a "plot" to derail the PKK peace process with Turkey, a spokesman for the Kurdish militant group told AFP on Tuesday.
"The developments in Syria and the larger Middle East have a direct effect on the peace process in Turkey," said Zagros Hiwa, spokesman for the political wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party.
The attacks "against the Kurds are a plot and conspiracy against the peace process and they indicate a setback in the process", he said.
Following the SDF's recent loss of territory to Syria's government, the Kurdish forces in Syria find themselves now restricted to Kurdish-majority areas in the country's north.
Turkey is a close ally of Syria's new leadership that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, and which is now seeking to extend state control across Syria.
Ankara is simultaneously leading a drive to reach a settlement with the PKK – listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies.
Last year, the PKK said it was ending its four-decade insurgency in favour of democratic means but the process has largely stalled amid the stand-off in Syria.
Turkey accuses the Syrian Kurdish forces of being an offshoot of the PKK.
Hiwa said the PKK's "commitment to the peace process is a strategic issue".
But he added that "the new strategy does not exclude the urgency of self-defence against genocidal attacks".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
English (US) · 