Military actions against the Islamic State (ISIS) alone are insufficient to eradicate the extremist group permanently, said Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) Foreign Relations Co-chair Bedran Çiya Kurd at a meeting in Geneva on 29 – 30 November.
The international Geneva meeting was held to strategise against the lingering threat posed by ISIS, and during the two-day talks, representatives of the AANES engaged with counterparts from Europe and Asia.
Çiya Kurd, head of the Foreign Relations Office of the AANES, emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure a sustainable defeat of the Islamist group. He pointed out the continued threat in the region through recent activity of ISIS cells.
The meeting delved into crucial issues, including efforts to comprehensively combat extremist groups in the region, with a focus on the political, humanitarian and judicial dimensions.
The discussions covered a range of critical topics, including the situation of detained ISIS members and the conditions of their families in IDP (internally Displaced Persons) camps. Çiya Kurd noted that the Autonomous Administration faces challenges related to these detainees and their families unaided, and framed it as an international issue. He urged collective commitment to the responsibilities involved, including securing camps, establishing rehabilitation centres, and addressing the situation of children and minors influenced by extremist ideologies.
The challenges posed by Turkish aggression against the AANES were also highlighted, and were considered a factor weakening efforts against ISIS and threatening regional security.
