NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus stands prepared to assist remove Syria’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and to help a seek for folks whose destiny stays unknown after greater than a decade of struggle, the highest Cypriot diplomat mentioned Saturday.
International Minister Constantinos Kombos mentioned Cyprus’ supply is grounded by itself previous expertise each with serving to rid Syria of chemical weapons 11 years in the past and its personal ongoing, decades-old seek for a whole bunch of people that disappeared amid preventing between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots within the Sixties and a 1974 Turkish invasion.
Cyprus in 2013 hosted the help base of a mission collectively run by the United Nations and the Group for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to take away and eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons.
“As a neighboring nation situated simply 65 miles from Syria, Cyprus has a vested curiosity in Syria’s future. Developments there’ll immediately impression Cyprus, significantly by way of potential new migratory flows and the dangers of terrorism and extremism,” Kombos instructed The Related Press in written replies to questions.
Kombos mentioned there are “profound considerations” amongst his counterparts throughout the area over Syria’s future safety, particularly concerning a potential resurgence of extremist teams like Islamic State in a fragmented and polarized society.
Different challenges embody new migratory flows from the nation in addition to guaranteeing the security and rights of girls and minorities together with Druze, Christians, Jews and Kurds, in order that the “wealthy mosaic of Syria is preserved.”
“That is significantly essential in mild of potential social and demographic engineering disguised as “safety” preparations, which may additional destabilize the nation,” Kombos mentioned.
The diplomat additionally pointed to the current proliferation of narcotics manufacturing just like the stimulant Captagon that’s interconnected with smuggling networks concerned in folks and arms trafficking.
Kombos mentioned ongoing assaults in opposition to Syria’s Kurds should cease instantly, given the position that Kurdish forces have performed in combating extremist forces just like the IS group up to now decade.
A Syrian-led course of transitioning the nation to an inclusive democracy ought to combine the Kurds’ “authentic asks” whereas safeguarding the nation’s unity and territorial integrity.
Saleh Muslim, a member of the Kurdish Presidential Council, mentioned in an interview that the Kurds primarily search “equality” enshrined in rights accorded to all in any democracy.
He mentioned a future type of governance may accord autonomy to the Kurds below some sort of federal construction.
“However the essential factor is to have democratic rights for all of the Syrians and together with the Kurdish folks,” he mentioned.
Muslim warned that the Kurdish-majority metropolis of Kobani, close to Syria’s border with Turkey, is in “very massive hazard” of falling into the fingers of Turkish-backed forces, and accused Turkey of attempting to occupy it.
Kombos mentioned the worldwide group wants to make sure that the affect Turkey is attempting to exert in Syria is “not going to create a good worse scenario than there already is.”
“Regardless of the future panorama in Syria, it should have a direct and far-reaching impression on the area, the European Union and the broader worldwide group,” Kombos mentioned.
