The founding conference of the Tradespeople’s Union was held in the city of Hesekê in the Cizîr Canton under the slogan “We will build a democratic and free society by organizing the social market.”
The conference was attended by representatives of civil and military institutions, political parties, women’s organizations, religious figures, academics, writers, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Ilham Ehmed, and Mar Morîs Emsîh, Orthodox Syriac Bishop of Cizir and Euphrates.
Delivering the opening speech, Henîfe Mihemed, Co-Chair of the North and East Syria Tradespeople’s Union, said that the conference was organized as a result of six years of organizational work amid continued attacks and bombardments.
Ilham Ehmed then took the floor and congratulated the founding conference, saying, “Syria and the region as a whole are going through a sensitive process. Syria plays a key role in the process of change in the Middle East. We are still at the beginning of the reconstruction process. No matter how much effort is made to change the mindset of the systems, the ruling systems are resisting just as much to preserve the central system.”
Ehmed pointed out that there are conflicts between power systems in the Middle East, systems that interfere in countries’ internal affairs, and democratic social forces.
Remarking that the people expect to see the differences between the Transitional Government and the previous system and expect serious changes in its policies, she said, “All the Syrian people are waiting. We have four years ahead of us for this transition period. As the Syrian people, let us ask ourselves what our expectations as components are. Our expectation is a Syria based on decentralization, democracy, and pluralism. However, serious efforts are being made to keep this system as it is. Only the names in power have changed, but the policies remain the same.”
Ehmed emphasized that there is great insistence on a pluralistic and decentralized Syria, stating, “There is dialogue between the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Transitional Government officials. Sometimes it continues, sometimes it breaks down. Mediating countries such as the US and France are involved in this. They organize and conduct meetings, and we Syrians hold talks.”
The Kurdish politician stated that international parties are not present at the table where Syrians are having talks: “As you have previously heard, there is an agreement on the inclusion of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Ministry of Defense, but this issue is still being discussed. In the coming days, the issue of including the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in the Ministry of Interior will be addressed in new dialogues.”
Ehmed pointed out that the integration of the SDF and Internal Security Forces is within the framework of decentralization. She said there is an agreement on this matter, adding: “There is no assimilation or denial of gains.”
Ilham Ehmed continued: “In terms of governance and the constitution, the constitutional declaration is very important not only for the people of North and East Syria, but for all the people of the country. Comments on the constitutional declaration are coming from different segments of society. There is great insistence on change in terms of decentralization, women’s rights, and the problems of peoples and nations.”
Ehmed emphasized the need for negotiations on the constitutional declaration and the administrative systems of the provinces, stating, “A mechanism for coexistence must be established. Governance must be shared. We must have relations with neighboring states. There is a peace process in Turkey, and this process is also important for Syria’s security because the problems of the people bind the countries together. The resolution of these problems, especially the Kurdish question, is also very important.”