Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. Sputnik / Alexey Filippov
A delegation of the International Federation of Kurdish Communities, headed by its Chairman Knyaz Mirzoyev, met with Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and African Countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.
“Members of the delegation informed Mr Bogdanov about the results of the founding meeting of the International Federation of Kurdish Communities held in Moscow on August 4 and praised the level of cooperation and solidarity of the representatives of Kurdish non-government organisations, including those in Russia and Central Asia.
The participants also discussed the pressing issues in the Middle East with an emphasis on the Kurdish issues in the context of developments in Iraq and Syria, including the need to consolidate international efforts in countering ISIS and other terrorist groups,” the statement said.
The intensified contacts between Russia and Kurdish organizations come amid the delcared rapprochement between the Damascus government and Kurdish factions in Syria.
- On July 27, a delegation of the Syrian Democratic Council [a political wing of the US-backed Syrian Democartic Forces] led by Ilham Ehmed visited Damascus for negotiatinos with the Syrian government. It’s important to note that the SDF and the SDC are de-facto dominated by the Kurdish YPG and its political wing, the PYD.
- On August 2, another Kurdish group, the Future Syria’s Party (FSP), announced that it will open offices in the government-controlled area.
- On August 5, General Commander of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units [they are the core of the SDF], Siban Hamo, told the UK-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that his forces are ready to assist the Syrian Army in combating ISIS cells in eastern al-Suwayda.
These developments are an important sign of the ongoing negotiatinos on intra-Syrian level in which Moscow plays an important role of the mediator. While Russia has still not been able to find understanding with the US over the future of Syria, it’s capable of employing its influence to propel a peaceful process on the ground.
