Arab League rejects PYD's declaration of federal region in N. Syria

The Arab League has rejected last week's declaration by PKK-affiliated PYD of a de-facto federal region in northern Syria.

The league's deputy chief, Ahmed bin Helli, said on Monday that calls for federalization could impact Syria's unity.

"The Arab League rejects such secessionist calls, which harms Syria's unity," Ahmed ben Helli, deputy secretary-general of the Arab League, told reporters. "Syria's unity and territorial integrity are a main principle of the Arab League."

Ben Helli voiced hope that the UN-sponsored talks in Geneva between the Syrian regime and the opposition will yield a political solution to the six-year conflict.

"Any calls by Syrians or non-Syrians regarding the country's unity and territorial integrity are rejected," he added.

Last Thursday, the PYD, the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK organization, declared a "federal system" in PYD-controlled areas in northern Syria. Following a two-day conference with more than 150 representatives in Syria's northern town of Rmeilan, the PYD declared the establishment of a "federal system" in three PYD-held areas – namely Hasakah, Afrin, Kobani – in northern Syria.

The PYD/YPG control over 10 percent of Syria's territory and three-quarters of its border with Turkey and is accused of expelling Kurds who oppose their rule. The organization have however been excluded from the U.N.-mediated Geneva process that has brought regime and opposition representatives together for indirect negotiations.