Ilham Ahmed: safety of Syria is linked to the safety of NE, Syria

The Civil Society Organizations Alliance in North and East Syria organized a dialogue seminar today, addressing the political developments in Syria at the local, international, and regional levels following the fall of the Syrian regime, in addition to the latest updates regarding the North and East Syria region and its relationship with Damascus, and the role of civil society in the current and future phases.

 The main seminar was hosted by the co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Ilham Ahmed, and was attended by representatives from 50 associations and organizations from civil society, held in the Samarkand Hall in the Tel Hajar neighborhood of al-Hasakah city in al-Jazira region.

The Syrian events were historic.

 At the beginning of her speech, Ilham Ahmed said: "We meet today at a new stage, and everyone is following what is happening on the Syrian and regional scene. The event that Syria witnessed was historic."

 The features of the new Syria have not yet become clear.

 She added: "The process of change in Syria is still ongoing, and the features of the new Syria have not yet become clear. We are living in a transitional phase, which is a very important stage for shaping the future of the new Syria. The question remains: who will draw these features, and how will it be done?"

The Authority of Damascus and the International Community

 Ilham pointed out that there is a new authority in Damascus, but the field situation has not seen a radical change. She added, "The international community is interested in the Syrian file and seeks to see a new, pluralistic, and diverse Syria that embraces all its cultures. There is also special attention to the role of women in society and the governance of Syria, and this is a fundamental demand for all Syrians."

 She confirmed that visits from regional countries are ongoing daily, expressing her hope that these movements will contribute to correcting the course towards building a Syria that represents all Syrians and meets their aspirations. She continued: "The humanitarian and security crisis continues in various Syrian provinces, which means that the ground reality has not seen significant changes, except that people now have greater freedom to move between cities and provinces."

Syria needs institutions that represent all its components.

 In this context, Ilham Ahmed emphasized that Syria still urgently needs effective political, social, and cultural institutions capable of representing the Syrians and meeting their various needs.

 She explained: "We do not blame the new Syrian administration, as we see it is still in its early stages and needs resources and human capacities to support it. Syria needs a genuine transitional process, which has not yet been achieved. An actual political transition requires drafting a new constitution, along with a democratic electoral process supervised by the United Nations and involving all segments of Syrian society."

 The hardest phase is still awaiting the Syrians.

 She added: "The hardest phase still awaits the Syrians. So far, no announcement has been made regarding the formation of a committee or transitional council that includes all components of Syrian society without exclusion, despite the fact that this matter is of utmost importance."

 She continued: "Rebuilding Syria is a critical phase that requires consensus and conviction in the necessity of all Syrians' participation in this process. However, the focus is still on a single group to take over the entire management of the process, and this approach will lead to a new crisis, so it is essential to avoid such tendencies."

 She confirmed that a conference is scheduled to be held in Paris with the participation of ministers from several countries to discuss ways to ease sanctions on Syria, start reconstruction, and identify the sectors that will be prioritized first. She noted that some of the sanctions imposed on Syria have been eased, particularly in the energy sector, under conditions set by the international community to ensure the progress of the political transition process.

The continuation of Turkish occupation attacks

 Regarding the military situation, Ilham Ahmed explained that the attacks by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries are still ongoing, especially against areas like the Tishrin Dam and Manbij, which complicates the security situation in North and East Syria.

 Syria is decentralized with wide-ranging powers for each region.

 She affirmed that the best solution for Syria is to adopt a decentralized system that grants regions wide powers, adding: "We want a strong Syria with its unified army, effective policies, and diplomacy, but with a decentralized system that achieves balance. Insisting on a new centralized system means reproducing dictatorship again, and this is what we reject."

National strife and the role of biased media

 Ilham Ahmad also warned against attempts to incite strife between Arabs and Kurds in Syria, pointing out that there are entities and parties working to exploit this issue to achieve their regional agendas.

 She explained: "There are Arab media channels that play on this string and try to inflame ethnic conflicts with the aim of destabilizing and reigniting the war in Syria."

 She called on all Syrians to be vigilant against these malicious propaganda and to confront the attempts of some regional entities seeking to control Syrian territories by inciting strife.

 The importance of Kurdish unity and the role of civil society organizations

 Ilham Ahmed emphasized the necessity of unifying the Kurdish ranks, confirming that there are serious efforts in this direction, and that some of the steps taken recently may bear fruit soon.

 She also emphasized the vital role of civil society organizations in supporting the process of peace and stability, saying: "Civil society organizations must play their active role, especially in light of the political forces' inability to address social and economic issues."

 She added: "There is a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region, especially after the cessation of humanitarian aid by some organizations, which has significantly affected the conditions in the camps."

 Conclusion of the seminar and discussion of future challenges

 The seminar concluded with an open dialogue between the co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Ilham Ahmed, and representatives of civil society organizations, where the discussion centered on the challenges facing these organizations, the role of women in building the new Syria, and the importance of achieving Kurdish unity to face future challenges.

T/ Satt.

ANHA