AANES expresses openness to work with Arab League on solution for Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) expressed on Monday openness to work with the Arab League to combat terrorism, ensure the safe return of refugees, and stop demographic change in Syria.
The Foreign Relations Department of the AANES said in a statement the Arab League’s final statement shows a positive Arab stance to finding solutions to issues that hinder reaching an understanding among Syrian people and actors in Syria.
This came following the final statement of the 33 Arab League summit held in Bahrain on May 16, which emphasized the need to “end the Syrian crisis” in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was also a participant in the summit.
Moreover, the statement emphasized that the actions of Turkey and its affiliated armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), the forced displacement, and demographic change that are carried out in Afrin region and other occupied areas in northeast Syria, contradict the efforts of Arab states that aim to achieve stability in Syria.
Additionally, the statement urged the Arab League to exert pressure to end the occupation of Syrian territory and achieve stability in line with the aspiration of the Syrian people, stressing the readiness and commitment of the AANES in serving Syria’s unity and people.
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the Syrian government forces. Later, autonomous administrations were established in Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militarily defeated the Islamic State (ISIS) there.
The AANES announced on April 18, 2023, an initiative called the Peaceful Resolution of the Syrian Crisis in accordance with United Nations resolutions and expressed readiness to start a dialogue with the Syrian government and with all Syrian parties following the failure of all international initiatives. The Syrian government, however, has responded negatively to all AANES efforts for dialogue.