Tribes and NES components affirm: territorial integrity and decentralization are popular demand

The "Unity of Position for the Components of North and East Syria" conference was held on August 8, under the slogan "Together for Diversity that Strengthens Our Unity, and Partnership that Builds Our Future." The conference was held in the city of Hasaka in the Jazera Canton, with the participation of more than 400 figures representing the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, political, military, and security institutions, and representatives of the components of North and East Syria.

The conference resonated widely in political and social circles. Among the attendees, Suleiman al-Hussein, a representative of the Bani Sabaa tribe, expressed his concern about the recent developments in Syria. He said, "In light of the circumstances the country is experiencing after the fall of the former regime and the emergence of the new transitional government, terms and names alien to the Syrian fabric have emerged, such as sectarianism, ethnicity, and religion. These are concepts that do not reflect our shared history and are inconsistent with the unity of our people. The media has recently documented manifestations of these divisions, through attacks targeting the Syrian coast and assaults on members of the Druze community in Sweida."

Hussein added, "We in the regions of NE Syria, through the 'Unity of Position' conference, place great importance on raising community awareness of the role of clans and tribes in strengthening social cohesion, especially in light of the escalation of hate speech and attempts to undermine the unity of communities in these areas, as is happening elsewhere in the country."

He emphasized that the people of this land, with their authentic souls, were determined to be a single, integrated fabric, standing united in the face of the conspiracies being hatched against the region

Brotherhood unites us

Al-Hussein pointed out that: "We are united in NE Syria by brotherhood and solidarity, with all its sects and components. We affirm our support for our Syrian Democratic Forces, as they are the true guarantor force that seeks to protect the region."

Sulaiman Al-Hussein emphasized: "Within the document discussed at the Unity of Position Conference, there is a major role for Arab clans and tribes. They will play a role in establishing security and stability, preventing discord and sectarian rhetoric, and preserving civil peace."

Autonomous Administration is Model

Assyrian Democratic Party official Wael Mirza commented on the importance of the conference and the Assyrians' participation in it, saying, "Our participation in the 'Unity of Stance' conference comes at a time when racist and hateful rhetoric is on the rise. Through it, we affirm that we, as communities in NE Syria, have lived for years under a comprehensive model that embraces everyone: the Autonomous Administration. This model, which we built together, we see today as the best vision for the future of Syria, especially after the painful events we witnessed in the coast and Sweida."

Wael Mirza noted that the conference sends a message to both the Syrian interior and major powers that the Autonomous Administration model is the best model for building the future of Syria, guaranteeing the rights of all communities in a unified, pluralistic, democratic Syria.

Decentralization guarantees the dignity of Syrians and prevents bloodshed.

The head of the Tayy Tribal Council, Sheikh Hassan Farhan al-Tayy, commented on the importance of the "Unity of Position" conference, emphasizing that the goal of the participation was to deliver a clear message to the Syrian interior and the international community that the autonomous administration and decentralization project represents a national vision that preserves the dignity of Syrian citizens and contributes to stopping the bloodshed.

Hassan Farhan expressed his regret for what happened in the coastal area and Sweida, noting that "we had hoped that the Damascus authorities would initiate serious investigations into these events and deal with them with national responsibility."

He also warned against the negative role of some biased media outlets that seek to sow discord among the components of society. He said, "Everyone here is dealing wisely with this inflammatory rhetoric. We in North and East Syria live as brothers, without distinguishing between components or sects. Therefore, the decentralization project is a fundamental demand that reflects the will of this society."

Commenting on the spread of hate speech, Sheikh Farhan noted that "attempts to ignite strife among the components of NE Syria are not new, and they escalated after the fall of the regime. Tribalism was promoted as a tool of revenge against certain components. However, the clans and tribes are innocent of these actions and refuse to be drawn into such schemes."

Sheikh Hassan Farhan concluded his remarks by referring to the conference's recommendations, saying, "The Unity of Stance conference issued clear and transparent recommendations that express our demands, most notably the affirmation of the unity of Syrian territory and the adoption of decentralization as a popular demand, along with the implementation of the March 10 agreement, to ensure the preservation of Syrian blood and the achievement of stability. Additional, more detailed recommendations that reflect the aspirations of the people of the region will be announced in the coming days."

Sh-S

ANHA