NEWS CENTER – Northern and Eastern Syria Autonomous Administration made a press statement on the subject in front of the Autonomous Administration Executive Council building in Raqqa. In the statement read by Autonomous Administration Co-Chair Hamid El Mihbaş, the following was recorded:
“The political crisis that started in Syria in 2011 has not been resolved in the past years and continues in its 12th year. In line with our responsibility towards all peoples, ethnic and religious communities living throughout Syria, in order to create developments towards a peaceful and democratic solution in 2023. As the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria, formed by organized democratic communities, we are issuing this declaration and call.
Hundreds of thousands of our people lost their lives during the years of political and social crisis. Millions of our people from Afrin, Serêkaniyê, Idlib, Ezaz, Bab, Jarablus, Girê Spi and other areas of Syria had to migrate inside and outside the country. Millions of our people face inhumane treatment in the places they migrate. Refugees from Syria were among the people who suffered the most from the earthquake that took place in Turkey. During the earthquake in Turkey under AKP-MHP rule, all kinds of attacks, insults and torture were made against Syrian refugees. Today, there are serious hunger, poverty, unemployment, security and health problems all over Syria. With the recent earthquake disaster, these problems have deepened even more. Our peoples from all ethnic and religious communities do not deserve this situation and are waiting for a solution that will ensure peace and stability as soon as possible. In the face of current events, all responsible political forces must take steps to create a common solution based on dialogue, discussion and reconciliation, so that Syria can achieve a peaceful and democratic future as soon as possible. As the Northern and Eastern Syria Democratic Autonomous Administration, we once again express our determination to take steps in line with our responsibility towards the peoples.
The national and international (Geneva, Astana process, etc.) efforts put forward so far within the scope of the solution of the Syria problem have not produced any results as of today. The main reason for this is that the Syrian problem is not properly analyzed, a peaceful and democratic solution program is not put forward, all the dynamics living in Syria are not included in the process and their solution is sought outside. On the other hand, the fact that the Syrian state, which should play an important role in the political solution in Syria, does not adopt a policy and attitude that will solve the current problems and overcome the crisis, also leads to the continuation of the deadlock. In this respect, the solution to Syria’s problems should be sought internally, and the Syrian state should take a responsible approach and adopt a policy and attitude that will ensure the solution of its problems.
On the other hand, the participation of all organized communities, political parties and movements, ethnic and religious communities, women’s and youth organizations that exist on a democratic basis in Syria, regardless of big or small, in shaping the future of Syria is of great importance for Syria’s peace and stability. . Syria is the land of all communities living in this country. It is the most fundamental right of these communities to determine their own future and to take an active part in solving the country’s problems.
‘WE ARE INTEGRITY AND DIALOGUE’
“1- We, as the Northern and Eastern Syrian forces, are in favor of the unity of Syria. The problems in Syria can only be resolved within the framework of the unity of the country. Within this framework, the current Syrian state administration and We declare that we are open to talks and dialogue with all social, political and civil structures in Syria.
2- At the root of the Syrian problem is the lack of political and social democracy. All social segments, including ethnic and religious communities, have the problem of having equal rights in all matters and living in a free and democratic way. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a democratic solution in which all communities participate. It is necessary to accept all ethnic and religious communities, including Arabs, Kurds and Assyrians, as the main element of Syria, to secure their collective rights, to become a democratic nation with democratic values, to establish a democratic political-administrative system based on decentralized local governments.
3- Our experience in the democratic, pluralistic and local democracy-based system we have implemented in the Rojava Northern and Eastern Regions of Syria; It has been revealed that all segments can live in peace and self-confidence with their own will and freely having the same rights, and that their problems can be solved on site and faster through local administrations. It has been shown that a democratic social harmony and stability is created by providing political, cultural and social structures with the opportunity to take part in general and local governments. Democratic Ecological Women’s Libertarian Society model that we have implemented and experienced in our region; We believe that it will be a solution reference for a country with a plural ethnic, religious, cultural, social and political structure like Syria.
4- We believe that it is necessary to share the existing economic opportunities on a fair basis throughout Syria in order to alleviate the severe economic and vital problems created by the process that has been going on since 2011. The products (such as oil, gas, wheat, food) existing in our northern/eastern Syria region belong to all Syrians, as are the economic opportunities in all Syria. We emphasize once again that we are ready to share these resources with the current Syrian administration and relevant political and social circles within the framework of negotiations and understanding. The opening of Til Koçer and other customs gates is very important in terms of supplying humanitarian needs and delivering them to all regions. In this regard, the responsibility lies with the current Syrian state administration. As the Northern and Eastern Syria administration, we believe that this problem will be resolved with the most reasonable compromise on the customs gate to be under state control.
5- We are ready to embrace and take steps within the possibilities of our region in order to alleviate the problems experienced by our people from all ethnic and religious communities who have to migrate inside or outside the country, and to eliminate their inhumane treatment.
6- We state that we will continue our struggle and efforts to prevent DAESH and similar gang groups from posing a threat in Syria, the region and the world, effectively and actively from now on. We see this as our responsibility to protect the peoples of the Middle East, especially Syria, and all humanity.
‘TURKISH STATE USES GANGS’
7- The Turkish government, with its policies, is causing the problems in Syria to deepen, the unity of Syria to be disintegrated, and ISIS-type groups to multiply and develop. The Turkish government is using ISIS type groups for its own purposes by intervening in Syria, making invasions and attacks in order to divert attention from its internal problems. The Turkish state’s efforts to change the demographic structure cause irreparable human tragedy and violations of rights. Those brought from different areas and refugee camps to play with the demographics of the region will face similar humanitarian problems in the future.
All of the problems on the Syria-Turkey border stem from the aggressive policies and practices of the AKP-MHP government aimed at influencing the internal politics of Syria. The reasons put forward by the AKP-MHP government for the Rojava-North and East Syria Autonomous Administration are unrealistic. The assassination attempt on the SDF General Commander in Sulaymaniyah is clear proof of this. We do not have any hostility towards Turkey or the Turkish peoples, but the Turkish state must put an end to its occupation. We adopt to live in peace with other neighboring countries and peoples, including Türkiye. However, we state once again that we will use our right of legitimate defense against possible attacks by the Turkish state against our people and our areas.
8- For the development of a democratic and peaceful solution in Syria, the United Nations, especially the Arab countries and the political forces in these countries, the Intellectuals, Democratic circles, and all international forces without discrimination, play a facilitating role; We demand their support and contribution to our search for a joint solution with the Syrian state and other Syrian forces that will play a role in the solution.
As we have stated in our declaration, we would like to emphasize once again that we have the will to take responsibility, take steps, develop dialogue with all parties and realize a solution for the solution of the problems within the unity and integrity of Syria. We have a reasonable approach to a solution that everyone can accept, within the framework of defending the interests of all Syrian people for the future of Syria and the solution. We have been in search of a solution for years, both with the current Syrian state administration and with other internal dynamics of Syria. We maintain such relations and negotiations. At the current stage, we are ready to mutually negotiate the solution perspectives and projects that we will come up with on the basis of accelerating these efforts, and to create a joint solution, taking into account the UNSC Resolution 2254.
It is a historical and humanitarian responsibility to take a step towards the solution of the Syrian problem, where hundreds of thousands of our people lost their lives and millions of our people suffered great difficulties. On the basis of this responsibility, we call on the current Syrian state administration and all parties to create a common solution.”
