🕊️ Ilham Ahmad calls for opening peace dialogue with Turkey

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ilham Ahmad, Co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), expressed hope on Saturday that Turkish authorities would visit northeastern Syria and that AANES representatives would likewise be allowed to travel to Turkey to discuss prospects for peace. Speaking via Zoom at the Peace and Democratic Society Conference in Istanbul, Ahmad stated the priority at this stage is to “discuss peace, not disarmament,” stressing that political engagement is the key to de-escalation. She added that stability in Syria is directly linked to stability in Turkey, adding that the establishment of a democratic state with a constitution guaranteeing the rights of all components would strengthen security on both sides of the border.

Ahmad indicated that the previous peace process in Turkey had an immediate impact on northeastern Syria, as cross-border tensions declined and the possibility of opening dialogue channels with Ankara emerged. In fact, she pointed out that communities in northeastern Syria had been deprived of their rights for decades under the rule of the Assad regime, and that the current political phase offers a rare opportunity to build a emerging democratic system and achieve lasting peace. “We are not in favor of dividing countries—neither in Syria nor elsewhere,” she stated. “Division only leads to more wars. ” Ahmad stressed that Turkey can play a decisive role in reducing voices that call for war and confrontation, citing Ankara’s influence inside Syria through its relations with the Syrian transitional administration and its ongoing communication channels with the AANES. She said that she had hoped to attend the Istanbul conference in person, but was prevented by what she described as “a mentality of non-acceptance” that continues to hinder direct engagement.

Reporting by Abdulsalam Khoja Editing by Jwan Shekaki