North and East Syria: Foreign Relations Department receives French delegation including former foreign affairs secretary Bernard Kouchner

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA – The Foreign Relations Department of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria, received at its headquarters a French delegation which included former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (2007-2010), Kurdish Affairs Specialist Gerald Shalian, and from the French Water Partnership Foundation Alan Boine.

The two sides discussed important topics such as the cutting of water to the region by Turkey, and the political process in Syria and peace talks. During the meeting, Co-Chair of the DAA Foreign Relations Department Abdul Karim Omar spoke on the Turkish threats and attacks on the Turkish-occupied territory in North and East Syria, pointing to the unacceptable closure of the Tal Kojer border crossing, which prevented humanitarian aid to reach five million people living in the region.

With regards to the International Water Forum held in North and East Syria, Bernard Kouchner explained the importance of their participation in this forum, indicating that water shortage in the region will affect the residents drinking water and water agriculture. “The danger is great and urgent,” he stated.

Alan Boine, in turn, stated that Turkey’s water cuts in the region was unacceptable for all the world. “This issue must be solved quickly for all civilians,” he stated. He indicated that the DAA has the opportunity to participate in the International Weather Forum, which will be held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2022. “The DAA can explain the situation in that forum, and it is the duty of the United Nations organizations to help in such cases,” he concluded.