In an exclusive interview with ANF news, Saleh Muslim, former co-chair of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria and member of the TEV-DEM diplomacy committee said that Assad's recent statements on Kurds in Northern and Eastern Syria are an attempt to break unity in the federation at a time when "The Kurd-Arab alliance expands every day."



The statements by Salih Muslim were in a response to public declarations made by Assad late last week in a press conference concluding a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Olgeovich Rogozin of Russia.



"Any who collaborate with a foreign power to fight the Syrian Army are traitors," Assad said, "It's as simple as that."



According to Salih Muslim to understand the particular situation confronting Kurds in Northern and Eastern Syria during this time, one must understand the "Anti-Kurdish alliance" which, indeed, brings different warring factions in the Syrian battlefield on the same common ground.



"If the regime is convinced, they will want to fight as well, but they are so weak in the military sense," Salih Muslim told ANF news, "If they want to continue their attacks in the military sense, they can do that through Iran's support."



When the Kurds of Iraq decided to announce an independence referendum, Turkey and Iran re-established diplomatic relations, and Ankara even invited Chief of General Staff Mohammad Bagheri to Turkey, a gesture which hadn't happened since Iran's 1979 Revolution. Despite standing on opposing sides of the Syrian battlefield, Turkey and Iran have both expressed discomfort with the advancement of Kurds in the region, particularly in Syria.



"This is the result of a secret alliance built on accusing Kurds of treason and terrorism". Saleh Muslim said, "Neither Syria, nor Iran, nor Turkey want the Free Kurd."



Compounding the complexity, much of the anti-Assad battalions, particularly those backed by Turkey, have also expressed goals of driving Kurdish forces out of Northern and Eastern Syria. In Hatay, the Turkish Government has brought about Arab clan leaders to "form an army to fight against the US, YPG and the Regime".



"Erdogan is now trying to gather some people around him through money and material resources to use against us," Salih Muslim said, "Qatar is also behind this project".



Inspite of these threats to the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, Salih Muslim still insists that the diplomatic efforts of the DFNS are still underway to find a resolution to the Syrian Crisis. He decried the influence of Turkey in preventing Kurds from getting a spot in UN-brokered peace negotiations in Geneva but remained hopeful that the DFNS would be represented in the Sochi talks organised by Moscow.



"I must say this" Salih Muslim told ANF News, "our position is very strong, and we have a strong project and proposals. There are no parties with a stronger hand than us to solve the Syrian crisis. The recognition of the Northern Syrian Federation is dependent on a political solution to be developed in Syria. Because we are a part of Syria" he concluded.