MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. The federalization of the Kurds in northern Syria is one of the ways of resolving the Syrian crisis, Chairman of the Council of the Federal National and Cultural Kurdish Autonomy in Russia Farhat Patiev told TASS on Friday.

"The announcement of the Kurds’ federalization is one of the proposals to resolve the Syrian crisis," he said. "Northern Syria offers its settlement model but is not committed to seceding from Syria. We want a unified state, but, at the same time, this does not prevent us from putting the federalization idea into practice." When asked whether the beginning of the federalization process was linked to the withdrawal of Russia’s aviation group from Syria, Patiev said it was "a mere coincidence."

Referring to the Kurds’ participation in the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, he noted that "the issue was actively discussed, but so far verbally." "UN Secretary General’s special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura lacks determination in this matter," he said.

The Kurds earlier announced the creation of a federal region in northern Syria. They elected an executive body, which comprises 31 persons: 15 representatives of Cizire Canton (region), 4 of Kobani, 4 of Afrin Canton, 4 representatives of the city of Gre Spi and 4 of the city of Shahba.