Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) foreign relations official Abdulkerim Ömer shared his evaluations on the political and economic developments in the region in 2021 as well as ongoing diplomatic relations.
Speaking to Fırat News Agency (ANF), Ömer said that the world sees the autonomous administration as an example for a solution to the Syrian conflict.
Ömer emphasised the negotiations in Geneva regarding discussions for a constitution for Syria and underlined that there would not be any success unless the peoples of North East Syria were also included in the negotiations.
”30 percent of the Syrian population and their demands were not represented in Geneva. We brought to the agenda the issue regarding the situation of ISIS members currently in prisons and thousands of ISIS women and children in the camps. We may face a humanitarian crisis in the future, especially in the Al Hol Camp. We shared all these issues with our interlocutors, and we tried to find solutions.”
Ömer stressed that the embargo restricts their diplomatic activities and relations with other countries, ”The closing of the border gates of North-East Syria is a strict embargo, such as the closing Semalka-Pêşxabur border gate by the authorities of Başûrê (Iraqi) Kurdistan, caused many obstacles in our efforts to negotiate with Arab countries. There is black propaganda claiming that we want to divide Syria with establishing a purely Kurdish administration. Due to Turkey’s black propaganda against us, the expected talks and meetings could not be held.”
Emphasising the importance of the recent official recognition of Autonomous Administration by the Catalonia Parliament, Ömer said ”Many states have started to recognise it ‘de facto’. Now, all European countries are open to us, our meetings and diplomatic relations continue at the level of deputy foreign ministers.”
He also underlined that they will develop relations with the Damascus government and the peoples of Syria in order to end the civil war, Ömer said, ”We will contribute to the establishment of peace with Damascus. We are dedicated to find the solution in Syria. Geneva and Astana delegations should be reconsidered, in this respect” he said.
Stating that unemployment and economic problems increased as a result of little humanitarian aid to the regions occupied by ISIS members, Ömer said, ”The ideology of ISIS still exists today and it can revive itself. International silence and the closure of the Til Koçer Border Gate, threats of the Turkish state to cut off the Euphrates water, and the situation of thousands of ISIS members in prisons and camps all destabilise the region.”
Noting that the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Democratic Council continue their diplomatic relations despite the embargo and the pandemic, ”This year, we will continue to develop dialogue with countries in the Middle East, and also the Damascus Government” he said.
