David Phillips: International Forum will open way to hold perpetrators of crimes in Afrin accountable

QAMISHLO

More delegations will join the international forum, which includes politicians, academics and journalists from Arab countries, including European countries and the United States of America, through the border crossing of Sêmelka between Rojava and Başûr "southern Kurdistan."

Delegates were welcomed by Joan Rasoul, Jihan Khalil and Ahmed Sinu, administrators at Rojava Center for Strategic Studies.

The delegation included media personalities and other personalities, including university professors and the Center of the Kurdish Studies in Cairo and coordinator of the Center for the Defense of Journalists' Rights in Sulaymaniyah.

In the early hours of the morning, a joint delegation arrived at Rojava and included French Military Advisor Patrice Francesci, writer, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Health Dr. Bernard Kouchner, Columbia University professor David Phillips, and strategic researcher and analyst of international conflicts Gerard Chalian.

Professor at Columbia University David Phillips said to ANHA agency "The forum that will be held around Afrin will contribute to documenting the facts and abuses of the people of Afrin and allow holding accountability to those responsible for these crimes."

Phillips added, "Turkey has invaded Afrin illegally as part of the grand strategy for demographic change, and the Kurdish people have the right to live on their historical land and according to their customs to cooperate and live together with their neighbors."

On Sunday, under the auspices of Rojava Center for Strategic Studies, an international forum will be held on ethnic cleansing and demographic change by the Turkish state and its mercenaries in the northern of Afrin canton north Syria.

A.H

ANHA