“We very much hope that the ceasefire will hold longer. This was negotiated by the United States, Turkey, and others. The people need to live in an area where there is no fighting," Dujarric, told Rudaw.
He also called for the establishment of an exclusive administration in Syria and the need for all minorities to feel protected and represented.
"This is a pivotal moment for the people of Syria, for Syria as a country. And the opportunity to build a Syria with strong, accountable institutions where the myriads of minorities that exist within the boundaries of Syria, whether they are Kurds, whether they are Christians, whether they're Alawites, all need to feel represented and protected,” he noted
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led a lightning blitz offensive on Damascus in recent weeks that toppled Bashar al-Assad on December 8. While all eyes were on the future of the country under the Islamists, a coalition of militia groups, who call themselves the Syrian National Army (SNA), launched attacks on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria with the help of Turkey, eventually taking control of Tal Rifaat and Manbij cities.
Clashes between SNA and SDF on the Tishreen Dam near Manbij severely damaged the structure and the dam’s operations, its manager told Rudaw English earlier this week, warning that if attacks continue many parts of Syria and the neighboring Iraq could be endangered.
The US officials have said they have mediated talks between the SDF and Turkey which resulted in a four-day ceasefire which has been extended to the end of this week. The SDF has accused Ankara and the SNA of constantly violating the truce but the Turkish defense ministry denied on Thursday the existence of any deals with the Kurdish fighters to end hostilities.
Dujarric said the next Syrian cabinet should be inclusive.
"Our strong message to them is to be inclusive. We don't know what the full government will look like, but it is critical, whether it's in Syria or many other countries, that those minorities—and sometimes minorities, which implies a small number of people, but in the sense of the Kurds, a large number of people—be represented and feel represented," he added.
The recent takeover of Tal Rifaat by the SNA led to the displacement of nearly 120,000 people to other parts of Syria held by the SDF. Dujarric labeled this “unacceptable.”
“We're aware of these situations, and I have to tell you, it is unacceptable. It is horrendous when people who have lost almost everything, who are displaced within their own country, are then subjected to even more abuse,” Dujarric said.
"This is one of the reasons and one of the messages we've been giving to the authorities in Damascus: to re-establish state control and security over armed groups in Syria to ensure that there is law and order. But law and order, meaning law and order that protects the minorities,” he added.
