Ilham Ahmed stresses importance of decentralization in Trades Union's 1st conference

A while ago, the Union of Trades held its first founding conference in the North and East Syria Region under the slogan "By Organizing the Community Market, We Build a Free and Democratic Society," in Hasaka city in Jazira canton.

The founding conference was attended by representatives from civil and military institutions, political parties, and women's organizations, as well as religious and academic figures and writers, in addition to the participation of Ilham Ahmed; the co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and Mar Maurice Amsih; the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Jazira and the Euphrates.

The conference began with holding a minute of silence in remembrance of the martyrs, followed by an opening address from Hanifa Mohamed; the co-Chair of the Union of Trades in North and East Syria, who said, "On behalf of the preparatory committee, we welcome the ladies and gentlemen present, members of the unions in the North and East Syria Region, representatives of the Democratic Autonomous Administration, the Democratic Society Movement, families of martyrs, and the Women's Council."

Hanifa Mohamed added, "The first conference of the Union of Trades at the level of the North and East Syria Region was held in response to six years of dedicated organizational work and the conditions of ongoing war and attacks on the region. This compelled us to confront these circumstances by elevating the organization's level of action and implementation."

Then, Ilham Ahmed, the co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Autonomous Administration, delivered a speech in which she said, "I congratulate the convening of the first founding conference of the Union of Trades at the level of the North and East Syria Region, and I wish the conference success."

She added, "We are experiencing a sensitive phase in Syria and the region in general. Syria is a pivotal region with regard to the process of change in the Middle East, or its reorganization by international actors and the existing societal forces living on this land."

Ilham Ahmed made clear that "the developments and changes so far have reached a stage where the features of the region's reorganization are still in their early stages. Whenever there are attempts to change the mindset of the regimes, we see resistance from the ruling regimes in the region in order to preserve the state system and the centralized systems that control societies and countries."

She noted that "in the countries where uprisings and demonstrations took place, calling for change, democracy, and freedom, we witnessed a clinging to and insistence on maintaining the centralized system. The desired change did not occur, and the societies that called for freedom, pluralism, and revolution entered a phase of stagnation. This does not mean that the revolution is over."

Ilham Ahmed continued, "There is a conflict between the ruling regimes in the Middle East and the regimes that interfere in the affairs of other countries, and between the societal forces that call for democracy and pluralism. Syria is an example. After 14 years, we are going through a difficult period of war, a deteriorating economy, collapsed infrastructure, a harsh living situation, and a dire situation for those who have been displaced outside the country."

She added, "A regime has fallen and another has taken its place, a transitional government, but the people are still waiting for change, for a significant difference between the old and new systems, and they hope for serious changes in the policies of the government and the state that govern people's lives."

Ilham Ahmed affirmed that "a sense of anticipation still pervades the psyche of the entire Syrian people; in Sweida, the Syrian coast, North and East Syria, Aleppo, Idlib, and elsewhere. All Syrians across the country are still waiting."

She emphasized that "we have four years ahead of us during the transitional phase, and we ask: What will happen, and what do we, as Syrians with our diverse backgrounds and cultures, hope for? We hope for a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria, but there are serious attempts to maintain the existing system, with only the people in power changing, while the policies remain the same."

She added, "The Syrian people never hoped for Syria to remain as it was, and there is still a strong determination for a pluralistic and decentralized Syria. This is the desired hope and the fundamental goal we strive for."

Ilham Ahmed noted that "dialogues are taking place between the Autonomous Administration and officials in the transitional government, sometimes intermittently and sometimes continuously. There are mediating countries facilitating these talks, including the United States and France, which play a key role in preparing and organizing the meetings. We meet as Syrians."

She emphasized, "We have four years ahead of us during the transitional phase, and we ask: What will happen, and what do we, as Syrians with our diverse backgrounds and cultures, hope for? We hope for a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria, but there are serious attempts to maintain the existing system; only the people in power have changed, while the policies remain the same."

She added, "The Syrian people never hoped Syria to remain as it was, and there is still a strong determination for a pluralistic and decentralized Syria. This is the desired hope and the primary goal we strive for."

Ilham Ahmed noted that "there are ongoing dialogues between the Autonomous Administration and officials in the Transitional Government, sometimes intermittently and sometimes continuously. There are mediating countries facilitating these talks, including the United States and France, which play a key role in preparing and organizing the meetings. We meet as Syrians."

She added: "In the meetings, international parties are not at the table. we, as Syrians, discuss matters amongst ourselves. You heard in recent days that there was an understanding regarding the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Ministry of Defense within a specific framework, but this is still under discussion. There will be further meetings in the coming days, and the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) will join the Ministry of the Interior."

She emphasized that "the integration of the SDF and the Internal Security Forces is taking place within the framework of decentralization. Integration does not mean complete dissolution or the denial of what already exists. There is agreement on this matter. The Interim Government also speaks within this framework, stating that it seeks to resolve and eliminate what already exists, but there will be integration according to a specific mechanism, and this will be worked on in upcoming meetings."

She made clear that "from an administrative and constitutional standpoint, the constitutional declaration is very important for us as Syrians, not only for the residents of North and East Syria, but for all Syrians. There are observations from various segments and groups regarding the constitutional declaration, but they say that the declaration was drafted by a committee that worked on it for months. There is insistence on amending the declaration regarding decentralization, women’s rights, and the issues of peoples and nationalities, and the declaration must guarantee them."

She pointed out that "discussions regarding the constitutional declaration and the administrative system in the provinces are possible. If we are striving for peace and security, a new system for Syria is essential, along with mechanisms and principles for co-existence among all Syrians. This administration must be shared and not comprised of a specific group that controls all aspects of life."

Ilham Ahmed emphasized at the end of her remarks that "openness between us and the neighboring countries is crucial. The peace process is underway in Turkey, and this process has been important and necessary for achieving security in Syria as well, because there are issues that link some countries to a shared destiny. Resolving these issues within specific frameworks is very important, including the Kurdish issue."

The first founding conference of the Union of Trades in the North and East Syria region continues with speeches, and the conference is scheduled to conclude with the election of the Union's co-presidency.

J.J

ANHA