Conference explores role of civil society in bridging NE Syria, Damascus
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A local civil society organization held on Tuesday a conference in Qamishli city, northeastern Syria, focused on the role of civil actors in fostering integration between northeastern Syria and Damascus.
The two-day event held in the city of Qamishli, organized by the Justice for Life organization, brought together around 40 participants from across Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Qamishli, Aleppo, and Damascus.
The participants included civil activists, officials of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), representatives of civil society groups, and human rights activists.
Mohammad Wissam, a journalist from Aleppo and one of the participants, told North Press, that the value of such meetings lies in their potential to help prevent future conflict and escalation in the region.
“As a Syrian citizen, I support efforts aimed at accelerating or bridging perspectives between Northeast Syria and Damascus.”
He added that the discussions addressed the structure and future of local administration in northeastern Syria, noting that this issue remains a core point of contention between the AANES and the transitional government in Damascus over how the country’s regions should be governed.
Ruaa al-Kilani, a civil activist, emphasized the importance of building mutual understanding and cooperation, “This is one of the most critical issues we need to work on given the lack of knowledge between Northeast Syria, Damascus, and other regions.”
She expressed concern over the current lack of awareness in other parts of Syria regarding the policies and social frameworks employed by the AANES.
The conference agenda includes sessions on local governance, internal security, and the prison system, as well as discussions on reactivating the business, energy, and education sectors.