The umbrella organization of the Kurdish women’s movement in North and East Syria, Kongra Star, harshly criticized the latest comments by the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack. In a recent statement, Barrack emphasized the formula “one country, one people, one army” for Syria and spoke out against federal or decentralized solutions.
In a statement on Monday, Kongra Star said that after decades of authoritarian rule, wars, and failed assimilation policies, Syria now faces a historic opportunity.
The Kongra Star statement reads as follows:
“In light of the delicate transformations Syria is undergoing after more than fifteen years of crisis and war, and in view of Ambassador Thomas Barrack’s statements regarding the negotiations between the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the transitional government in Damascus, we at Kongra Star emphasize the importance of the role international mediators can play at this sensitive stage, provided it is a constructive, neutral role that aims to support the will of the Syrian people in all their diversity.
Exhausted by wars, authoritarianism, and exclusionary policies for more than six decades of Ba’athist rule, Syria now stands before a historic opportunity to rebuild itself on new foundations rooted in justice, equality, and recognition of the cultural and societal diversity that forms the core of Syrian identity. The past years have proven that centralized policies and the denial of the rights of diverse communities were key causes of the crisis. Therefore, any national dialogue that fails to consider the demands of all communities, especially women and the forces that have been at the forefront of the struggle, will be incomplete and destructive.
As Kongra Star, we believe that the role of mediation must focus on creating an atmosphere of mutual trust among Syrian parties and on supporting a Syrian-led solution that achieves security and stability and ensures genuine participation of all communities in shaping the country’s future. This dialogue must be founded on the principles of democracy and decentralization, which serve as true guarantees against a return to war and division.
As a women’s movement, we consider the recognition of women’s rights and their pioneering role in rebuilding a new Syria to be a fundamental condition for achieving justice and genuine reconciliation. Peace in Syria cannot be built without guaranteeing women’s rights and dignity, and no political process can succeed without the genuine inclusion of women.
Finally, we affirm that safeguarding Syria’s territorial integrity can not be achieved through slogans, but through the recognition of diversity, respect for the will of the people, and the establishment of a decentralized democratic system that ensures rights and freedoms. Therefore, we call on the transitional government and international mediators, particularly the United States, to play a responsible and historic role in leading Syria out of darkness and toward a shared, democratic, secure, and just future for all its sons and daughters.”
Source: ANF News
