With the participation of a delegation from the Syrian Coalition headed by President Abdurrahman Mustafa, the General Conference of the Supreme Council of the Syrian Tribes convened in the village of Sajjo near the town of Azaz in northern rural Aleppo on Friday. The conference brought together around 1,000 people representing 150 Syrian tribes.
The conference was held under the title ‘Hand and in Hand to Liberate Syria from the Assad Regime and Terrorist Organizations and to Achieve Civil Peace and the Unity of Syrian Territory and its People.” Convened with sponsorship from the Syrian Coalition, the conference aims to establish the Syrian Tribal Council consisting of a presidential body, an executive council, and a council of dignitaries.
In a speech to the conference, President Mustafa stressed that the sons and daughters of the Syrian tribes “are a major component of the Syrian revolution,” commending “the important and positive role” Syrians tribes have played through the history of Syria and in “preserving the social fabric.”
“We commend this move as it will hopefully contribute to the constant work and efforts aimed at increased coordination and unity in the future,” President Mustafa said. He asserted the role of the Syrian tribes “in preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and the unity of its people.”
Moreover, President Mustafa pointed out that the victory over the ISIS extremist group was not possible without the major role of the Syrian tribesmen. He said: “You have contributed with the rest of the Syrian people in the detection and confrontation of the organizations and militias that sought to achieve their objectives at the expense of the Syrian people. These organizations have worked under orders and guidance from the Assad regime, threatening the unity of Syria.”
He continued: “We will not accept any proposal that does not lead to meeting the Syrian people’s demands for freedom, justice and dignity. The unity of Syrian land and its people is the cornerstone that will satisfy the Syrian people. We will continue to work until we build a new free democratic country that respects the rights, freedom and dignity of all citizens.”
He concluded his speech by stressing the role of the Syrian revolution and its institutions to continue the struggle to free the Syrian people from tyranny and restore freedom and dignity. President Mustafa thanked Turkey for its role in combating terrorism and liberating the region from terrorist groups as well as supporting the Syrians who have been forcibly displaced to flee the barrel bombs of the Assad regime and its allies.
In the final statement, the tribal leaders reaffirmed commitment to the principles of the Syrian revolution and its goals of freedom and dignity. They also reaffirmed commitment to toppling the Assad regime with all its symbols; to bring its officials to justice, and insist on the withdrawal of all terrorist forces and foreign sectarian militias and forces that are hostile to the Syrian people from all Syrian territory.
The statement also underscored the need for the Syrian tribes to restore their historical and legal status they deserve given the Assad regime’s attempts to sideline and weaken them and alienate them away from the political arena and public affairs. It also stressed their cultural role in the history of our nation.
Representatives of the Syrian tribes previously held a series of extensive meetings during which they formed a preparatory committee comprising all members of the tribes and agreed to hold this conference in the liberated areas of Syria. . (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
