Basque MP says work being done to recognise Autonomous Administration

A delegation from Rojava consisting of Rawda Hasan, Minister of Culture of Jazira Region, Nariman (Evdikê) Mohammad, writer and spokesperson of the Literature Council and Manal Mohammad, from the diplomacy committee of Kongreya Star spent two weeks in the Basque Country last December.

The delegation was invited by the Municipality of Durango, which is twinned with the city of Kobane and sustains some important projects in Kobane, such as the Martyr Silan Academy and a cultural project promoting peace and involving young girls and children carried out by Kevana Zerin.

The delegation was received by the Navarra parliament and the Basque Parliament in Gasteiz-Vitoria as well as by Ima Garrastatxu, the mayor of Durango, who announced the institutional recognition of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria (AANES). “From the Durango City Council we want to institutionally recognize the Kurdish institutions created in recent years, especially the Autonomous Administration, and we will continue to offer you help as we have up to now,” she said, adding: “We do not want only to cite the high price you have paid, because, beyond your resistance and courage, we want to highlight that the Kurdish people have been able to build bridges with other peoples of Syria, Christians, Arabs, yazidis, etcetera. And, above all, that you have been able to create an Autonomous Administration supporting women and minorities.”

The commitment to work towards the recognition of the Autonomous Administration by both the Navarra and Basque Parliaments is now being followed up.

EH Bildu parliamentarian Oihana Etxebarrieta said that the Basque Parliament is working for the recognition of the Autonomous Administration, which had been officially recognised by the Catalan Parliament on 20 October.

Etxebarrieta said that the Autonomous Administration must be recognised as soon as possible in order for ISIS to be tried in an international court.

Speaking about the latest attack by ISIS against Sina Prison in Haseke, the Basque parliamentarian said that “this attack took place because there is little support from international forces. In order for this threat to end, international powers need to fulfill their responsibility for this common problem.”

Etxebarrieta added: “EH Bildu will always support the government of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and will continue to walk beside them. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the AANES fought against ISIS for all humanity. We should never forget that. An international tribunal should be established as soon as possible to prosecute the Islamic State. This court is very important to be able to lay out the common responsibility.”

Etxebarrieta also said that the “recognition of the status of the AANES is a demand expressed by different organisations and local movements. We are also in favour of promoting and supporting this. EH Bildu is working to get the AANES recognised by the Basque Parliament.”