00:00I want to start with Syria. SDF military leader, Mazlum Abdi, recently stated that
00:05Syria should adopt a decentralized structure where all groups have the right to self-governance.
00:12He added that a centralized system has already failed.
00:15He also said that during his meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy Thomas Barak
00:21that Ms. Barak came to understand that Syria cannot be governed from a single center.
00:26Given that, and considering Turkey's strong opposition to any form of Kurdish autonomy
00:33in the Northeast due to SDF's ties to PKK, an organization that has reportedly now engaged
00:39in a disarmament reintegration process in Turkey, albeit with no formal outcome yet, does the
00:45U.S. support the SDF's apparent push to establish a parallel or federal governing structure rather
00:52than reintegrating into the central Syrian regime? Has the U.S. position on Syria's territorial
00:58integrity shifted or softened in any way?
01:01MS. So in general about Syria, I think this is important.
01:04The first thing I want to do is read a tweet from Ambassador Barak, our ambassador to Turkey,
01:10as well as, of course, our special envoy there in the Middle East as well, Syria and Lebanon.
01:15He tweeted, disturbing violence erupted yesterday, this was on October, on August 4th, I should
01:21say, in Sueda and in Monbiage. Diplomacy is the best way to stop violence and build a peaceful,
01:30lasting solution. The United States is proud to have helped mediate a solution in Sueda and
01:36to be co-mediating with France the reintegration of the Northeast into a unified Syria. The path ahead
01:43belongs to Syrians, urging all sides to uphold calm and resolve differences through dialogue,
01:49not bloodshed. Syria deserves stability. Syrians deserve peace. When it comes to – I guess
01:58you're asking about Turkey and the –
02:00As single-centered governance, did you change your stance on that?
02:04MS. Well, no, we – first of all, Ambassador Barak continues to engage all parties to ensure
02:09security and calm for all Syrians. But we are continuing to support dialogue with the Syrian
02:16government and the Syrian Democratic Forces aimed at integrating the SDF into the Syrian
02:21military. Of course, we welcome all productive meetings between the SDF and President al-Shara.
02:28We also support the SDF's intent to transform the current ceasefire in Northeast Syria into
02:34a comprehensive and lasting peace. And of course, it will be up to Syria and the new government
02:39to move the country toward peace and prosperity. I can say that when we look at the notion of
02:48a comprehensive, inclusive government, of course, that is the way that it has to work. And I think,
02:54as we've talked before about places that have been unstable, that's been the point, is that we're
03:00working for stability. And I think our position previously still stands certainly. And we continue
03:07with democracy being vitally important as well as diplomacy when it comes to the nature of how we
03:14solve the problems there. A short follow-up, please. Is the U.S. following Turkey's newly formed
03:20parliamentary commission that is reportedly working to end PKK's armed campaign, potentially through
03:26reforms and in counter-terrorism criminal legislation change for a peaceful transition? If so, how might
03:34that effort affect your approach to Northern Syria and your ongoing partnerships on the ground?
03:38Well, first of all, we won't comment on actions that governments are taking internally when it comes
03:43to legislation or moves that they seek to make. Nor will I discuss the impact on what our negotiations
03:51might be or our relationship with other governments that are affected by something like that.
03:55At the same time, I'll take that back to a degree to see if there has been any
04:00remarks or elements that might be helpful. And again, for those watching at home,
04:04when we say we're going to take back a question, it means that we're going to get an answer to that
04:08question in some form and get it back directly to the reporter as well. So I think we've got a good
04:14track record in that regard. All right. Yes.
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