DHAKA: Washington has expressed concerns over the declaration of a constituent assembly by Syrian Kurds as a self-declared ‘first step’ toward an interim administration in the northern parts of the war-torn country.

‘We are concerned over the reports on efforts to declare an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria,’ US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said during her daily press briefing on November 13, Turkish daily Hurriyet publishes this report on November 14.

‘The establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region should include the communities that live in this region, hence be part of a decision,’ Psaki said, adding that Washington was committed regarding Syria’s unity.

‘Our policy has always been to support Syria’s unity and territorial integrity,’ Psaki said.

Saleh Muslim, the co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which controls the northern parts of Syria known as Rojava, said that the constituent assembly was established to meet the needs of the Syrian Kurds.

‘If preparations are finished there will be elections in three months,’ Muslim announced.

The move was also harshly criticized by Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who accused the PYD of not ‘keeping its promise’.

BDST: 1709 HRS, NOV 14, 2013
RoR/BSK