Abdul Kareem Umar: it is time for recognition of Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria  

Co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Abdul Kareem Umar, has made clear that the most important priority for them is now consolidating diplomatic relations with peoples more than countries, for such relations are more significant, and more everlasting, saying that was more evident during and in the after math of the Turkish attacks on the Sere Kaniye and  Tal Abyad / Gire Spi.

Umar made clear that the role played by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria is so essential in finding a solution to the Syrian Crisis on the international arenas, and that participation officially by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria ought to take place in the meetings held by the Syrian Constitutional Committee, and that efforts are under way to develop relations with Arab States more, saying that it is unfortunate that the Regional Government in Southern Kurdistan has never recognized the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and due to that their diplomatic representation was opened at the city of Sulaimaniye instead of that of Hewler, and that they are on good terms with all Kurdish parties in Southern Kurdistan except for Kurdistan Democratic Party.

All this was unveiled in an interview done by the ANHA News Agency with co-chair of the body in question, Abdul Kareem Umar, regarding the diplomatic work done by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

You, as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, what have you done diplomatically?

We, as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, commenced work on the diplomatic arena since the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was declared in 2014.

At the beginning our work was so limited, for we had relations and communications with foreign ministries of a number of countries, steps were taken firmly to do such a work in such an arena, for then our relations with the European countries were not official or at the should be level.

Due to the struggle performed against terrorism and declaration of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, our diplomatic work developed that conduced to official diplomatic relations, for we met a big number of officials in foreign ministries of many European countries, that are still taking place, in addition to that, we have set diplomatic ties with the United States of America, Russia and Canada, after visits by our delegations to these countries.

In addition to that, many delegations representing different countries came to our region, where series of meetings were held, of which many are still taking place, our diplomatic work is still going on via exchanging visits between us, of which many are been carried out via the video link technology, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic outbreak.  

Our diplomatic work was not limited to countries only, rather we contact many people and associations as well, in this relation, and due to the withdrawal by the U.S. forces from the region, and commencement by Turkish Occupation Forces of attacks on the regions in question, many rejecting and condemning positions to such attacks were reflected by associations as well as by people in many countries, and they backed us, and such positions were not impulsive, rather a reflection to the significance and strength of our popular and political relations that proved to be so effective, as we have seen.   

As military forces carry out their duties on the ground to protect the region, we are also doing our duties on the diplomatic arena, doing our best to avoid our former demerits, as the stage we pass implies that.

Many delegations and missions came to the region, what was the core of discussions ?

Such visits by these delegations come within efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations, for there has been many parliamentarians who come to the region on their personal capacity, without any official assignment from their countries, in addition to academicians and civil society associations to hold meetings with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria by various delegations during campaigns against the ISIS mercenaries, in particular at the time of liberating  the town of Baghouz.

Such visits by such delegations are still under way, in such meetings with organizations and civil societies we discuss the actual reality of the war in the region, and informing them on repercussions of such a war, and mechanism by which they can deliver assistance to the region on the humanitarian arena, as well as informing them on the situation in the region on the political arena, and make clear our vision for the solution to the Syrian Crisis, and most important here is to inform them on the assaults carried out and the demographic changes taking place by Turkish Occupation Forces in the region, in addition to circumstances in which all deportees and IDPs live.       

 The Issue of ISIS mercenaries and families

In many meetings held we discuss the issue of foreign ISIS mercenaries, and repatriation by their countries of origin, for many countries came to the region to retrieve their nationals, as well as the issue of prosecuting ISIS mercenaries in particular, on which it was confirmed that a tribunal should be set up in North Eastern Syria, for these mercenaries to be put on trial, to which efforts have never been spared, for such mercenaries have committed war crimes against humanity against the people of the region, to which we have obtained evidences and documents, so, it is better for these mercenaries to be put on trial in North Eastern Syria that has been clarified to many delegations, and during such diplomatic meetings we assert that the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria be supported in this relation. 

The two al-Hol and Roj camps 

The two camps of al-Hol and Roj are two important ones, for this they are in dire need of external assistance, for the refugees housed there are not just our problem, rather an international responsibility, we have got war wounded of whom injured as well as those lost parts, in the fight against terrorists, the international community has to deliver aid and assistance for the treatment of the wounded, of course, this is humanitarian issue that relates to the human conscience at the same time. Such issues are being under discussion with the visiting delegations.

Look, there is a virus that sweeps the whole world rapidly, and that has grave effects here, unless necessary measures are taken in our region the situation is going to be worse, for so, an international assistance is needed in this relation, for the danger is increasing. For instance, there are female ISIS prisoners, there are tens of IDP camps, this alone aggravate the problem, in our meetings, all such issues are being dealt with.  

ISIS mercenaries ought to return home

As it has been mentioned earlier, some delegations come to the region officially, for instance, a delegation from the Sweden held a series of meetings with the  Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, where we called for delivering aid for the sake of war wounded to be treated.

Some other delegations come with the aim to visit the ISIS families and their orphaned children, with the aim to repatriate them to their countries of origin, such delegations pay visits to the camps. Undauntedly, all these issues won't be solved in a single diplomatic meeting, for in such meetings issues remain suspended sometimes, and others positive issues come to light in high ranking meetings, while some other issues need time and deliberations for.

For instance, the  Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and Syria's Democratic Council, the SDC, represent at least 5 million population in the region, and due to the veto we are not represented in the Geneva Track and we are excluded from participation in drafting the new Syrian Constitution.

We are certain that the Syrian Crisis would never come to an end without participation by Kurds, the Kurds ought to take part in such talks for the Syrian Crisis to come to an end.

30 % of the Syrian soil was liberated by us from the occupation after relentless fight and immeasurable sacrifices, all these topics are being discussed with foreign delegations, such as delegations from U.S., England and France via the video link technology, of course breakthroughs have been made, for they confirm to us that we would be represented in such arenas.

Neo –Ottomans represented in Erdogan 

Turkey proceeds to occupy Iraq and Syria, in reality, Recep Tayyib Erdogan tries to regain territories that were run by the Ottoman Sultanate in the 20^th century by means of Islamist extremist groups, so he was involved in Syria, Iraq and Libya. He has set up a military base in Qatar, and so he interfered in the Karabakh crisis between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He is involved in a serious struggle between France and Austria.

When we meet, we mention that Erdogan, by embracing such extremist ideology, poses a threat to the whole world, the attacks on France and Austria prove this, and I think the world knows that. 

The aim of such delegations, has anything been concluded ?

At the end of 2019, a Swedish delegation met the Peace Body after which an agreement saw light in three arenas; the first one relevant to the al-Hol Camp, those housed at the camp were under grave pressure, where children were trained in accordance with ISIS ideology, tribunals were set up by ISIS members at the camp, where all who oppose the ISIS creed were murdered, in the al-Hol Camp, 34 people were killed at the hands of ISIS elements.

At the beginning, they have to dwell on setting up a new camp, there are radicalized women overwhelmed by the ISIS creed, they ought to be separated from the other ones, there had been a plan for that; a training centre was set to be opened for women and children. 

The second arena was relevant to the war wounded, and the third one relates to the prosecution of ISIS mercenaries, that ought to be put on an international trial.  All this was done due to support provided by Sweden, for Just two weeks ago, the fourth meeting with the Swedish delegation was held.

A meeting was held with representatives of 12 states via the video link technology, for the sake of this agreement to see light, four countries voiced their support to us at the first of which the United States of America.   

Post meeting relations

We have to note here that all delegations, academicians, intellectuals whether they are represented in official syndicates, social or civil ones, see the actual reality on the ground. Here, all components are represented in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, nationally and religiously, that is an unprecedented experience worldwide. Women are represented in associations of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, via the co-presidency system, those who see all this provide support to us after returning home.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria appreciates highly the diplomatic relations with the peoples ahead of these with states, we give importance to popular diplomatic relations, for diplomacy between states depends primarily on interests, for instance, when pressurized by media outlets they change their policy at once, so the diplomacy that links peoples is much more stronger and much firmer.          

Via the Foreign Relations Office and the diplomatic representation offices outside we contact delegations that come to the region. We have got eight diplomatic representation offices outside so far, one of such representations is the Scandinavian diplomatic representation, that is Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.  We have got diplomatic representation offices in Germany, France, as well as in Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, in addition to that in Belorussia, amid endeavours to set up a new one in England. 

Diplomatic relations with Arab countries

Undoubtedly, we are sparing no efforts to develop relations with all regional countries, the Arab states have to take responsibility to find a solution to the Syrian Crisis. Syria is undergoing a sectarian struggle and a civil war, and such countries have to take responsibility to find a solution to the Syrian Crisis. In spite of our serious endeavours to set up good relations with Arab countries, there still remains some shortages in this relation. If some shortages belong to us, it is correct that these countries hold responsibility too, for they distance themselves from us and deal with us hesitatingly.   

We have got constant relations with Egypt and the UAE, and Syria's Democratic Council has a diplomatic representation in Egypt, as we have got diplomatic representations in Lebanon, Iraq and the UAE. We try constantly to consolidate such relations and improve them, for the sake to find a solution to the Syrian Crisis.

As some areas are still occupied, though observed by foreign delegations, the Autonomous Administration has never yet been recognized ?

We have never proclaimed a state, we are just an administration inside a state, that is a member state to the United Nations. Syria has also to recognize the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, that would never be available until the Syrian Crisis is over, that, if done, would pave the way for an international recognition to such an administration.  As an example, the Regional Government in Southern Kurdistan was on good terms with the Iraqi Federal Government, so it was recognized in accordance with the Iraqi Constitution, as a corollary it was turned into a federation, so, for the Autonomous Administration to gain recognition, officially and legally, first of all the Syrian Crisis has to be solved.

The Autonomous Administration is a de facto status, we, in the Foreign Relations Department, have got contacts with so many European states as well as Russia, Canada and the United States of America at the foreign ministers level, and we hold such meetings in the official context, that is merely an indication of recognition to the Autonomous Administration, and, as I have just indicated, the actual reality is a de facto status reality to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

As to the reason for not inviting the Autonomous Administration to the Geneva talks and the Syrian Constitution Committee's meetings, this is a different case, that is because of the Turkish veto, there are vital interest of many states with Turkey, in addition to that Turkey is a member state to the NATO alliance, besides, Turkey's relations with Europe and the United States of America is the reason behind the Turkish veto, and, in my opinion, the Syrian Crisis would never be solved unless the Turkish veto is annulled, so we, in the Autonomous Administration and Syria's Democratic Council, endeavour to gain recognition to our status, and proceed to work in such a course.    

These areas were occupied by Turkey

Turkish State occupied such areas in compliance with agreements concluded with these countries, that did not remain only silent regarding attacks by the Turkish Occupation State, rather these assaults were carried out in accordance with concluded agreements. For instance, occupation of Afrin by Turkish Forces was carried out via an agreement between the Turkish State and the Russian Federation, while the U.A. kept silent, as an implied given okay to such an occupation.

The occupation of Sere Kaniye and Gire Spi was commenced after a phone call between the U.S. president Donald Trump and Turkey's Receb Tayyib Erdogan, for Trump by a tweeter gave the okay to the Turkish occupation, of course, all these were conducted based on mutual and certain interests.    

Developments taking place in the region would impinge on all middle eastern countries and Syria and more specially our region, based on this, Russia and the U.S. are doing their best to keep presence in the region, and in the same relation, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS of whose members European ones, as well as Iran, Arab countries, Israel and he Turkish State, all are interfering in the region as each one behaves as it's interests entail. 

With the breakup of the Soviet Union Russia's role faded away to a great deal, based on this, and via the Syrian Crisis it tries to regain the role it had, and for the same reason it had interfered in Libya, Armenia and Azerbaijan too. Iran, as one of the greatest powers in the region, tries to take advantage of events taking place in the region by interfering in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.  In addition, there have been many Arab countries that have begun normalizing ties with Israel to encounter Iran, and due to such agreements, they give blind eye to threats and dangers posed by the Turkish State to their countries. 

As a result to our popular diplomatic endeavours, all components of the region stood up to the Turkish attacks on the region, from another hand, two of the main parties in the U.S. Congress, and most of the media associations all over the world opposed offensive by the Turkish Occupation Forces, the whole world believes that it is indebted to the people in North Eastern Syria, for they have fought and stood up to ISIS on behalf of the whole world as such.    

At the start of the Syrian Crisis we adopted the third line strategy, we never yielded to anyone, for instance, though we have strong ties with the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the United States of America, we have never yielded over our will to them, as our relations with Russia and the Syrian Government proceed, but without yielding, for as they set up their diplomatic relations as their interests entail, we also base our relations as our interests in the region entail that.   

As our struggle against the ISIS goes on, and though ISIS was defeated crushingly, but it still poses a great threat to the region and the whole world as such on which the issue of putting ISIS mercenaries on trial is not only an issue that belongs to us, rather it belongs to the whole world, and due to our relentless diplomatic endeavours, countries such as Holland and Sweden have given okay to form an international tribunal in North Eastern Syria, that is essential for the justice to be done.  

There is not a single state that opposes setting up a tribunal for the ISIS mercenaries, but what concerns is that whether they would be prosecuted in accordance with the Syrian Civil Code or in accordance with this of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria ?

Our diplomatic efforts are under way to reach a mechanism for that, and though any tangible or actual step has never been made, we could say that progress has been made.

What did the Belgian delegation made pledges to provide ?

The Belgian delegation was made up of two members of the Belgian Federal Parliament, and a member in the ruling party, the visit by the Belgian delegation was the second of it's kind to the region, they are our friends.

They try to provide support and assistance to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, members of the delegation have good ties with European countries, besides they are members of an effective committee in Belgium.

All the previously mentioned topics were discussed with members of the delegation, and I can say that the deliberations were positive, and pledges were made to proceed providing assistance and support.      

Why Hewler has never recognized the Autonomous Administration yet ?

We have relations with the Federal Government of Iraq, and a diplomatic representation in Baghdad to superintend such relations, besides we have got two representatives at the city of Sulaimaniye in Southern Kurdistan, they were supposed to be in Hewler, the capital of Regional Government of Southern Kurdistan, but the administration of Southern Kurdistan has never recognized the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria yet, so our diplomatic representation was set up at the city of Sulaimaniye, in addition to that, we are on good terms with all political parties and powers in Southern Kurdistan but regarding the Kurdistan Democratic Party that is so limited.

We hope that the Regional Government of Southern Kurdistan changes it's position and officially recognize the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, for the gains made never relate to the region alone, rather they belong to all parts of Kurdistan, when we are strong they are so too. 

In the 21^st century the Kurdish people has a historical chance that has never ought to be lost, we must utilize such a chance, and achieve victory, based on this, our efforts to hold a Kurdistan National Conference are relenless.

Had Kurdish powers were unified, Afrin, Gire Spi and Sere Kaniye  would had never been occupied by Tukish Occupation Forces and Kirkuk would had never underwent such events.

L.A.  

ANHA