SDC: Genuine partnership builds new Syria, not exclusion

The Executive Body of the Syrian Democratic Council held its regular meeting at the council’s headquarters in the city of Hasaka, attended by the co-chairs Layla Qaraman and Mahmoud Al-Masalat, along with the members of the body, to discuss the latest political developments on the Syrian and regional arenas, as well as relevant international updates.

The attendees began the meeting by emphasizing that the region is undergoing rapid strategic transformations since the outbreak of the confrontation between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, which has recently escalated with clashes between Israel and Iran. They considered these events as the beginning of a new phase in the regional map, and noted that Syria, given its location, is part of this transformative process.

In this context, the council’s co-chair Layla Qaraman explained that the Middle East is witnessing strategic changes affecting the balances of regional and international powers.

 She stressed the importance of assessing these transformations within a broader context of complex changes and called for wisdom and joint efforts to achieve stability and enhance security and peace in the region.

She also affirmed that stability in Syria cannot be achieved except through dialogue and understanding, pointing out the necessity of resolving all issues through dialogue and partnership, not exclusion or unilateralism.

For his part, Mahmoud Al-Masalat pointed out that Western powers have considerations different from the aspirations of the peoples of the region, and called for raising collective awareness in the Middle East and empowering peoples to protect their national interests amid these changes.

He referred to the agreement signed between the head of the transitional government Ahmad Al-Shar’ and the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces Mazloum Abdi, emphasizing that NE Syria is an active partner in shaping the country’s future, and that Syrian–Syrian dialogue is the best way to build a stable state.

Al-Masalat warned against regional interventions, especially by Turkey, which negatively affect the course of understandings within Syria. He stressed the necessity of preserving the independence of Syrian decision-making and strengthening the paths for a comprehensive national solution, stating that “Syria belongs to all Syrians and is not the exclusive domain of one component.”

He also confirmed that decentralization is a democratic choice and not separation, and that dialogue is the best option to resolve outstanding issues.

The meeting also addressed the latest developments in the external relations of the transitional authority, noting that the government’s orientations in Syria are closely linked to international positions.

They discussed the attack on St. Elias Church in Damascus, viewing it as evidence of the fragile security situation and the transitional government’s inability so far to achieve full stability in the country.

The participants criticized the unilateral steps of the transitional government, such as forming the Higher Committee for the People’s Council elections without consulting the components of Syrian society, warning that “the new Syria is not built by exclusion, but through genuine partnership.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, the attendees stressed the importance of enhancing service performance and sustainably developing institutions. They affirmed that the Syrian Democratic Council represents a comprehensive national coalition that expresses the aspirations of broad segments of the Syrian people and embodies an effective political framework striving to build a modern democratic state based on respect for rights and freedoms and the consolidation of political and cultural pluralism.

A-H 

ANHA