Reactions to the AANES’ initiative for solving Syrian crisis

In a statement that included about nine basic points and concerns all Syrians without exception, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) presented an initiative to solve the Syrian crisis with all its important and fundamental issues that affect the homeland, people, communities, wealth, religions, sects, constitutions and administrations on the inclusive national ground based on justice and equality. The statement and the initiative also included the UN, Arab, and regional and international countries of concern and the relationship with Syria to solve the Syrian crisis and get out of the bottleneck that has lasted for more than a decade. Amid international and regional movement in the region, especially after the catastrophe of the earthquake that struck both Turkey and Syria in February, international and Arab aid flowed to Damascus, visits exchanged between Iraq, Jordan, the UAE and Egypt, consulates and embassies opened in Damascus by the aforementioned countries, attempts to return Syria to the Arab League, the visit of the Syrian president to Moscow, the Emirates and Oman, and the visit of the regime’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria.

All this movement coincided with the statement and initiative of the AANES which was a clear message to Turkey, its opposition, its factions, and its personalities, and to all Arab and regional countries and the UN that the AANES calls for the unity of the Syrian territories, and that the nine points depend on the foundations of dialogue with everyone, the regime, the opposition, and the factions affiliated with each. The initiative was strong and its timing was also appropriate because it really created international and local responses, which had a positive impact on everyone, even if the matter was not devoid of some observations and some criticisms from some writers, politicians and some parties. The AANES’ initiative called for the participation of all segments of society and the recognition of the rights of all communities and the application of the experience of the AANES in the rest of the Syrian regions, the distribution of wealth and economic resources fairly among all Syrian regions, the reception of the displaced and the refugees in the regions of northeastern Syria according to their capabilities, the continuation of the fight against terrorism and the prevention of Turkish interference in Syrian affairs, and the invitation of the Arab countries to play a positive and effective role find a common solution.

Among the notes and criticisms directed at the initiative was that it did not mention the real causes of the Syrian crisis, which are related to the fierce interference of the security services in every detail and incoming in the lives of the Syrians, as well as the spread of great corruption and the widening of unemployment. The Syrian regime and its writers criticized the reason why the initiative ignored the American occupation of Tanf and the areas of northeastern Syria. it also criticized the ignorance of the Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights. It is likely that the initiative is aware of all what was mentioned in the notes and criticisms and the AANES knows its truth, but it is a paper to start negotiations and dialogue with everyone to solve the Syrian crisis that has been lingering for more than 12 years. Some parties appreciated the initiative and saw it as positive and sent messages of reassurance to the Syrians and to others in the international and regional environment and the elimination of all internal concerns, especially with regard to the distribution of wealth in the property of all without discrimination. Therefore, we can say that the AANES is open to everyone at home and abroad and with all parties, including the Turkish party, especially if it abandons its expansionist plans in targeting the areas of the AANES with its drones and artillery and withdrew from the lands it occupied. The AANES does not antagonize the Turkish people and wants peace and stability next to it, in its homeland and within its borders. The AANES also mobilizes the international community on the importance of UNSC Resolution 2254 and all relevant resolutions.

Despite the existence of a memorandum of understanding between the Popular Will Party and the AANES, the vision of the aforementioned party is in harmony with the Russian influence and the Syrian regime. It criticizes that the AANES diagnosed the Syrian crisis as a crisis of national and religious communities, and it was necessary to address the withdrawal of all foreign powers including the Russian, American, Turkish and Iranian.

What is strange about the position of these parties is their belief that these issues are absent from the AANES. There is no patriot or politician who accepts the presence of the foreign forces in his country. Through openness and dialogue the facts will be revealed that the AANES’ initiative is comprehensive and solves all economic and constitutional issues, especially with regard to the distribution of wealth and the rights of the communities on the legal and constitutional grounds that include even the smallest ethnic and religious communities in fair and comprehensive equality. The initiative is not considered a ready-made solution, rather it is an invitation to the entry of all pro- and opposition forces, including the regime, to develop a solution to the Syrian crisis in which everyone agrees. In the end, the AANES presents a vision for the establishment of a political, pluralistic, and decentralized political and administrative system that preserves the rights of all communities, including Arabs, Kurds, Syriacs, Assyrians, Armenians, Chechens, Turkmen, and Yazidis on the basis of brotherhood of peoples. Most of the matter is that the AANES’ project and initiative contains a lot of positives and is accepted by everyone except those whose interests conflict with the new, future, democratic and decentralized Syria. it seems that this contradicts the Iranian presence in Syria and that those that revolve in the Iranian orbit, as well as all the forces that revolve in the Turkish or Russian orbit will not accept the solution to the Syrian crisis. Solving the Syrian crisis is linked to the agreement of regional countries, including Israel, Turkey and Iran, and the approval of the US, Europe, Russia and China.