AANES delegation heads to Washington following visit to Moscow

On Sunday, the representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the Kurdistan Region described the visit of the joint delegation of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and the AANES to Moscow as a positive step to pressure the Damascus to start serious and comprehensive dialogue.

Fathallah Hosseini, a member of the Administrative Board of the AANES Representation in the Kurdistan Region, told PUKmedia, that "the joint delegation headed by the president of the Executive Committee of the SDC Ilham Ahmed visited the Russian capital at an official invitation," explaining that the delegation met with Russian diplomats, led by Sergei Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss ways of cooperation and pressure on the Syrian regime to start comprehensive serious dialogue with Damascus.

"The visit coincided with the visit of the Syrian President to Moscow, and it was confirmed that Turkey is an occupying country and its presence will be temporary in Syria," Hosseini said.

He also emphasized that the visit is a reassurance for the AANES and that Moscow should put more pressure on the Syrian regime to start a serious comprehensive dialogue in the interest of the country.

Hosseini also said that the same delegation is scheduled to go to Washington on Sunday, upon an official invitation from the US Senate, and the delegation will hold meetings at the White House.

On August 31, a joint delegation from the SDC and a pro-Moscow Syrian party, the “Popular Will Party” (PWP) met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.

During the meeting, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's unwavering readiness to continue promoting an inclusive constructive inter-Syrian dialogue in the interests of the early restoration and strengthening of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, creating conditions for the harmonious coexistence and development of all ethno-religious components of Syrian society.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the SDC and the PWP, which they signed following the results of the contacts held in Moscow.

The AANES visits to foreign countries come as part of the efforts to gain recognition of the SDF and an autonomous region for Kurds in Syria.

Syrian Kurdish leaders have called for autonomy, as well as recognition of the SDF, but Damascus insisted on the full return of all territory within Syria’s borders to the central govern



PUKmedia