Badran Jiya Kurd: The initiative of the Autonomous Administration is directed toward everyone

Qamishli – Ali Omar

– This initiative supports all national attempts and efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis

– The initiative does not come at the expense of any side and is perfectly compatible with the national interests of the Syrian people

– This initiative is directed toward all Syrian parties that currently existent

– The Arab countries should develop their relations to all Syrian people and especially North and East Syria

– The absence of the Arab role has encouraged other states and parties to fill in the void

– This initiative is crucial and we can build a democratic Syria upon it

– On April 18, 2023, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria announced a new initiative for a solution for Syria during a press conference that was held by the Co-Presidency of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The initiative presented a new vision for a democratic solution in Syria, consisting of nine points that empathize with all aspects of the Syrian crisis and ways to come out of it, in addition to revealing its position amid the wave of normalization processes with the government in Damascus.

In order to learn more about the details of this initiative and its implications in this time as well as the messages the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria wants to forward, the Target Media Platform has met with the Co-President of the External Affairs department within the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Badran Jiya Kurd and conducted the following dialogue:

-1. The initiative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria encompasses all points for every aspect, what are its implications and stipulations, and can it function as a new way for a political solution in Syria?

At a time when see see the blockage in attempts at dialogue and solutions to the Syrian crisis, including the international solution initiative, put forward by Peterson, which reached a dead end without achieving any progress and amid the ongoing suffering and plight of the Syrian people that increases while the crisis further deepens, we, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, out of our responsibility, decided to present an initiative as a means of supporting all international attempts and efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis and to break the stalemate in these efforts and to achieve a breach, which is an attempt by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and indulges in political, military and economic capacities and capabilities that enable it to play and active role in the efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.

In other words, we announced this initiative based on our ability to play this role on the one hand and on the other hand, we as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria wanted to clarify once again to the public opinion our position and our vision for the framework for the solution in Syria in concomitance with the efforts of normalization with the Syrian regime, whether from the Arab or the Turkish side; each side seeks to solve its problems with Syrian regime from the perspective of its narrow interests without comprehensive frameworks for the Syrian crisis and the development of effective solutions that guarantee the rights of everyone, so we wanted, in parallel with the wave of normalization with the Syrian regime and the ongoing diplomatic moves, to present our position and vision clearly and transparently. Moreover, all eyes were perhaps directed towards the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in order to find out its position on normalization with the Syrian regime, which is why it was necessary to present this initiative to clarify our position.

2. The international climate seems more susceptible to a solution on Syria … Do you select a response, starting from the actors in the Syrian crisis?

This initiative comes not at the expense of any party. On the contrary, it is completely consistent with the national interests of the Syrian people and it is the most effective solution to end the Syrian crisis and the suffering it causes, and at the same time, from a humanitarian perspective, although the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has placed itself under a heavy burden of responsibility when it made its appeal, we confirm once again that our doors of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria are open to receive the suffering Syrian refugees everywhere.

Of course, if this is achieved, it will be within the framework of a couple of procedures and agreements with some parties because it constitutes a great responsibility and must draw the attention of the European Union and the United Nations so that we can together find appropriate solutions to the refugee issue and the issue or displaced persons and forcibly displaced people until the conditions are ripe for their return to the areas and villages of their origin and therefore, in an emergency and temporary manner, we can open the doors of the areas of the Autonomous Administration to all refugees, in accordance with procedures and mechanisms that will be discussed in their appropriate frameworks. On the other hand, this initiative calls for a democratic political solution for a unified Syria, which is in the interests of all Syrians.
Therefore, it is necessary for all Syrians to support this initiative because their is no way to end and shorten the term of the Syrian crisis except through this initiative.
We, therefore, hope that the Syrians and the Arab countries, active in the Syrian crisis, as well as those affected by its negative repercussions and the issue of refugees, drugs, and everything related to security and terrorism, will interact with this initiative and help us by supporting it and pushing it with us to make it happen in practice.
On the ground, we also hope that all active international powers on the ground in Syria will positively approach this initiative, whether the United States or the Russian Federation and the countries interested in the solution for Syria. This initiative was developed on this basis.

3. – To whom did you present this initiative and could it receive a response from the government in Damascus and the opposition parties?

This imitative is directed at all Syrian parties on the ground. First, it is directed at the Syrian regime because it is the main stakeholder in the Syrian crisis and therefore, it will be able to play a role in the solution as well. It is also directed at the other Syrian parties, “blocs, parties, and democratic political figures” that consider themselves as part of the national opposition. Syria, as well as the initiative directed at Turkey, which played a negative role in aggravating the Syrian crisis by occupying large areas of Syrian soil, is currently impairing any solution and therefore, our message is also directed towards an end to this occupation of Syrian land and the termination of attacks and aggressions. So in this regard, we affirm that we want to be in peace and harmony with all neighboring countries.

We can further say that any party involved in the Syrian crisis or responsible in any way is being addressed with this initiative as our message is also addressed to everyone. In this regard, we have made our position and intentions clear through the announcement of this initiative. Therefore this initiative and message concern everyone. These are sincere intentions for dialogue and finding a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis. There is no doubt that we will take practical and effective steps to achieve a comprehensive solution to the Syrian crisis.
4. Can the government in Damascus change its mentality and abandon the military way, and how do you view the recent positions of the Arab countries?

Of course, the Syrian regime sees itself at this stage as victorious with the wave of Arab-Turkish normalizations, as if it had got rid of all its problems and can begin to rule in Syria as before, but this is schizophrenia and self-deception. On the contrary, it is not possible for the regime and its institutions to return to it was before and this is clear to everyone; many profound changes have taken place in the situation in Syria at all levels, “politically militarily, economically and societally”. With these changes, the regime cannot practice the same previous policies and run the country according to those policies. There is a need for new behaviors and policies and a new Syrian constitution that has to address all crucial issues and aspects.
On the other side, the Arab countries must not deal with the issue at the level of Damascus only and solve their problems with the regime and improve their relations with it. Therefore, we turn to the Arab countries to deal with the government in Damascus on the basis of a comprehensive Syrian political solution that guarantees the rights of all Syrians, and on the basis of political change, not return as the regime used to do in its previous policies. The Syrian crisis cannot be resolved in this way, and even those problematic issues that the Arab countries fear with the government in Damascus cannot be solved in this way. On the contrary, they will grow deeper and broader. Therefore, the Arab countries must develop their relations with all the Syrian people, especially those in North and East Syria as this area is an important part of Syria and an advanced model of experience that possesses advantages and gains on the ground. Therefore, it is necessary for the Arab countries to develop their relations with this part of Syria as well, and not only with the regime, as if everything could be resolved with the Damascus government only, because this is wrong and useless, and it will lead to deep divisions and an aggravation of the problem in general in Syria, and it will contribute to deeper entrenchments and conflicts, and therefore the Arab countries must establish relations with all societal and political status of the Syrian people, in order to establish stability and find a peaceful solution in Syria.

5- Is it possible to count on an Arab role in the political solution based on such an initiative?
Of course, the role of the Arab countries – before any other party – is important for ending the Syrian crisis. We have witnessed an absence of this role so far, and this is what encouraged other countries and parties to fill in the void. The autonomy of North and East Syria is fully prepared and open to developing our relations with the Arab countries, even in the issues that arouse their fear and from which they are suffering, such as the problem of Syrian refugees, terrorism, and drugs. We have the capacity and capabilities that enable us to deal with and assist in these issues alongside the Arab countries.

6- Why did you choose this timing to announce this initiative? Is this related to the wave of Arab and Turkish normalization with the Damascus government?

We believe that in this period there has become an urgent need for a Syrian national initiative to move and activate the “Syrian-Syrian” dialogue… This is the most appropriate time for such an initiative, in conjunction with other parties’ search as well for a way out of the Syrian situation and the development of dialogue to find solutions.

Accordingly, the initiative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria must be supported by everyone, because it is an initiative, built upon the framework of a national and unified Syria. The initiative opens the way for a democratic system that guarantees equality for all Syrians and bears the responsibility to ensure a solution to the problems that the Syrian society suffers from. Therefore, we believe that this initiative is important and that we can build on it for the future of a democratic Syria.