Ilham Ehmed, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, stated the following in a Zoom address at the “International Conference on Peace and Democratic Society” organized by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in Istanbul:
“We are currently going through a phase in Syria. We have entered a new process after the Baath regime. We are trying to establish a democratic administration. There are many problems. However, we are all here: Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen. We were all killed under the Baath regime. But now we have an opportunity to live in peace. We need dialogue. During the Baath regime, we Arabs, Armenians, and Turkmen all signed an agreement among ourselves. There was a contract covering language, culture, and everything else. We also defended women’s freedom, which was an important step toward women’s equality. While there was war everywhere, there was construction in our region. There were constant attacks. However, with this system and agreement that was formed, we defended both ourselves and our culture. We lived freely under the agreement with our beliefs. Autonomous administration is of great importance for Syria.
This system had a significant impact on the Syrian people while Abdullah Öcalan was in Syria. If autonomous administration plays an important role today, it is due to his influence. I consider discussions about peace today to be important. These discussions must be maintained with determination. When the process began in Turkey, we witnessed its effects immediately. The war ended. We want to be in dialogue with Turkey. Our borders should be opened. These are important issues. We therefore carefully want and hope for the peace process in Turkey to be brought to a successful conclusion. Those who still speak of war and conflict must be silenced. Turkey can do this. In this sense, support for peace must be increased. Turkey is having talks with the Damascus government, and it also has a channel with us. The Middle East is being redesigned and Turkey’s role here is also significant. If Turkey achieves peace with Syria, it will emerge from this situation in a better position. That is why peace is important. Peace must be demanded fearlessly. We are not in favor of the fragmentation of countries. We have no such goal in Syria or anywhere else. We believe in communal life. We are trying to live communally as the Turkmen, Arabs, and Kurds and we will continue to do so. The US president always speaks of “peace,” so he should also contribute to peace in Turkey and Syria, but to a meaningful peace. Today, everyone must take responsibility so that mothers will not cry again and blood will not be shed. We must support peace.”