The next government must decide whether or not to repatriate Belgian fighters in Syrian prisons, the interim Foreign Affairs Minister has stated.
Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (OCAM) has identified 89 Belgians in the Syrian-Iraqi region, including 26 in prison camps in the Kurdish zone. Belgium's interim Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) says that their repatriation must be considered. However, "this type of decision should be taken by a fully-fledged government."
He made the comments during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara. Quintin and Fidan discussed the situation in Syria after various rebel groups, led by the Islamic militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), attacked government forces and deposed President Bashar al-Assad after 13 years of civil war.
An interim government now leads Syria. The Kurds, who de facto control the north and manage the prisons and camps, fear a resurgence of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) and offensives by Turkey-backed armed groups during this uncertain transition period.
For Belgium, as for other European countries, it is "a matter of national security," said Quintin. "What is important for us is that the security of the camps is guaranteed."
'Prisoners should be repatriated'
"The prisoners should be repatriated by the states of which they are nationals," said Fidan. He emphasised that "they are being held there indefinitely, without trial," adding that they are "guarded by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)."
The People's Protection Units (YPG) is a Kurdish militia aiming to establish an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria. Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the PKK and labels both as terrorist organisations.
This runs against EU's policy. Asked about YPG, an EU spokesperson told The Brussels Times that YPG, contrary to PKK, is not listed by the EU as a terrorist organization. “The EU considers that resuming a credible peace process, aiming for a sustained political solution to the Kurdish issue, is essential for the stability in the region.”
Ankara also wants "the Syrian government to take over the security of the camps and prisons," Fidan continued. "If that is not possible, Turkey is ready to help."
Quintin was appointed Belgian Foreign Minister in December when his predecessor Hadja Lahbib took up her role as EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Preparedness and Equality.
