The Al-Jazira and Euphrates Committee of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (SOC) met with the U.S. State Department’s “START” team, and discussed with them the situation of the liberated areas east of the Euphrates (Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad), and reported ongoing violations by the PYD militia against civilians.
The meeting was attended by the SOC’s Vice President for Foreign Affairs Abdulahad Astepho, the Secretary of the political committee Abdul Majeed Barakat, the Coordinator of the Al-Jazira and Euphrates Committee and member of the political committee Abdelbaset Abdullatif, member of the political committee Zuhair Muhammad, and member of the General Assembly Ibrahim Al-Basha.
START Director Terrence Flynn and team members Alex Starr and Randall Kaailau were present.
The committee’s coordinator Abdul Basit Abdullatif spoke about the history of the formation of the Al-Jazira and Euphrates Committee from the governorates of Deir Ezzor, Raqqa and Hasakah, pointing out that the committee’s mission focuses on following up on the conditions and developments of the Jazira and Euphrates region, and formulating policies and programs for its future within the framework of the Syrian national project.
Abdullatif stressed that the committee seeks to build a safe and stable area and a cohesive society in peace with a participatory local administration within the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the territories, through effective and direct communication with the people and civil activities in the region, highlighting the active role of all the people of the region and ensuring their fair and democratic representation.
Vice President Astepho spoke about the SOC’s interest in the Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad regions, and its quest to improve the living conditions of the residents there by enabling the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) to play its role, calling for supporting for SIG which is preparing to visit Washington, meet its officials and present its development projects to them.
Barakat reviewed the reality of the residents of Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn under the siege imposed on them, and stressed that the region is living in a very difficult humanitarian situation due to the acute shortage of food, medicine, raw materials for agriculture and animal husbandry. Barakat pointed out that the current conditions weaken the return of refugees from the people of the region to their lands and homes, including Arabs, Kurds and Assyrians.
He pointed out that the SOC seeks to increase the region’s representation as it will include representatives of local councils, and appoint a Minister of Agriculture from the people of these regions to enhance cooperation with the revolution’s institutions.
Al-Basha explained that he was in a meeting with the people of Ras al-Ayn a day ago, and conveyed the greetings of the people of the region to the American side, and their invitation extended to the US State Department and international organizations to visit the area to find out the situation there.
Al-Basha indicated that the economic conditions are deteriorating, due to the dependence of the people of the region entirely on the sectors of agriculture and animal husbandry, and he spoke of the deterioration of the medical sector, as reports indicate that there are about 40,000 cases of leishmaniasis.
Committee member Zuhair Muhammad spoke about violations he claimed were carried out by the PYD in the areas under its control, and the recent burning of the offices of the Kurdish National Council and its parties.
He thanked the American side for their position rejecting these actions.
He pointed out that the offices of the Kurdish National Council were opened two years ago with international efforts in order to resume the Kurdish-Kurdish dialogue.
The director of the START team Terence Flynn answered questions about the continuation of Caesar Act sanctions. He added that START maintains regular contact with SIG and is reviewing its proposals regarding assistance needs in northwest Syria.
He said he understood the desire for humanitarian crossings between regions for the continuation of family and social ties between the population and that he would raise this topic to senior leadership and explore paths forward.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
