Cyprus stands prepared to assist eradicate Syria’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and to help a seek for individuals whose destiny stays unknown after greater than a decade of struggle, the highest Cypriot diplomat stated Saturday.

Overseas Minister Constantinos Kombos stated Cyprus’ provide 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 lots of of people that disappeared amid combating 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 get rid of Syria’s chemical weapons.

“As a neighboring nation positioned simply 65 miles from Syria, Cyprus has a vested curiosity in Syria’s future. Developments there’ll straight influence Cyprus, notably when it comes to potential new migratory flows and the dangers of terrorism and extremism,” Kombos advised The Related Press in written replies to questions.

Kombos stated there are “profound considerations” amongst his counterparts throughout the area over Syria’s future safety, particularly relating to a potential resurgence of extremist teams like Islamic State in a fragmented and polarized society.

Different challenges embrace new migratory flows from the nation in addition to making certain 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 notably crucial in gentle of potential social and demographic engineering disguised as “safety” preparations, which may additional destabilize the nation,” Kombos stated.

The diplomat additionally pointed to the current proliferation of narcotics manufacturing just like the stimulant Captagon that’s interconnected with smuggling networks concerned in individuals and arms trafficking.

Kombos stated ongoing assaults towards Syria’s Kurds should cease instantly, given the position that Kurdish forces have performed in combating extremist forces just like the IS group prior to now decade.

A Syrian-led course of transitioning the nation to an inclusive democracy ought to combine the Kurds’ “reliable asks” whereas safeguarding the nation’s unity and territorial integrity.

Saleh Muslim, a member of the Kurdish Presidential Council, stated in an interview that the Kurds primarily search “equality” enshrined in rights accorded to all in any democracy.

He stated a future type of governance may accord autonomy to the Kurds below some type of federal construction.

“However the necessary factor is to have democratic rights for all of the Syrians and together with the Kurdish individuals,” he stated.

Muslim warned that the Kurdish-majority metropolis of Kobani, close to Syria’s border with Turkey, is in “very large hazard” of falling into the arms of Turkish-backed forces, and accused Turkey of making an attempt to occupy it.

Kombos stated the worldwide group wants to make sure that the affect Turkey is making an attempt to exert in Syria is “not going to create a fair worse state of affairs than there already is.”

“Regardless of the future panorama in Syria, it should have a direct and far-reaching influence on the area, the European Union and the broader worldwide group,” Kombos stated.