MSDAs part of a diplomatic effort, a high-level delegation from Northeast Syria held talks with members of the German Parliament in Berlin, Germany.
The delegation included:
• Mahmoud al-Mislat, Co-chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC).
• Ilham Ahmad, Co-chairwoman of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
• Abdulkarim Omar, Representative of the AANES in Europe.
• Joseph Lahdo, Head of the Syriac Union Party in Europe.
• Khaled Darwish, Representative of the AANES in Germany.
The delegation held separate meetings with Nils Schmid and Frank Schwabe, members of the German parliament from the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD), and Gokay Akbulut, a member of the German Parliament from the Left Party, in the Bundestag building.
The delegation began the meetings by providing a comprehensive briefing on the deteriorating situation in Syria after nearly a decade and a half of the brutal crisis with no political solution in sight. They also highlighted the repercussions of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine and their negative impacts on the general situation in Syria as a whole, and in Northeast Syria in particular.
The delegation also discussed recent developments and the major challenges facing the AANES at political, economic, and security levels in Northeast Syria. They particularly highlighted the danger of the activity of ISIS terrorist sleeper cells that exploit the ongoing Turkish attacks on the region.
The meeting discussed in detail the issue of ISIS detainees and the need to hold them accountable in accordance with international law. Also, it addressed the unresolved issue of the families of foreign fighters in Hawl and Roj camps. The delegation reiterated the need for the international community to assume its full responsibilities towards this issue, which poses an escalating security threat.
The delegation also highlighted the systematic Turkish attacks targeting infrastructure and service facilities in Northeast Syria. These attacks, which amount to war crimes, have caused a real humanitarian catastrophe. They increased the suffering of unarmed civilians and putting their lives at great risk, as well as led to new waves of displacement in the region.
The delegation also stressed the importance of developing and strengthening a strategic partnership between the AANES and entities in Germany in common interests. These interests are counter-terrorism, addressing migration challenges, and cooperation in the humanitarian field, as well as supporting the political process in Syria.
