Umar: Parliament of Catalonia opens the way to further recognition of the Autonomous Administration

The Autonomous Administration Foreign Relations Department co-chair, Abdul Kareem Umar said that the recognition of the Northern and Eastern Syria’s body as a political entity by the Parliament of Catalonia was a positive one. ”We believe that this decision was by virtue of the role played by the Autonomous Administration in the fight against terror that posed threats to the region and the international community.”

Umar added that this decision marks the beginning of the progressive recognition of the Autonomous Administration, adding that they are expecting similar steps in this direction.

The Parliament of Catalonia recognised the Autonomous Administration on 20 October, on the fourth anniversary of the liberation from ISIS of the city of Raqqa. It is the very first formal recognition of the Autonomous Administration by an official institution.

Umar said that Northern and Eastern Syria is the sole region of the Middle East where three languages are formally recognized: Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac. He also pointed out the role played by women in the Autonomous Administration, both militarily and administratively, and the protection given to religious groups such as Yazidis and Christians.

“I believe – Umar said – that all these positive points prompted the Parliament of Catalonia to recognize the Autonomous Administration as a political entity and committed the Catalan government to developing cooperation and common work with the Autonomous Administration.  We depend on developing relations with communities because we are not a nation state group. Countries deal with each other according to interest at the expense of non-state communities. We all saw, when US president Donald Trump gave the AKP government the green light to invade our regions with a phone call, how the American public opinion and community at home and abroad protested against the decision, making pressure on Trump to eventually revert his decision.”

Umar said the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria sent a thank you note to the presidency of the Parliament of Catalonia, its deputies promoting this motion and the Catalonian people.