Foreign Relations Commission of North and East Syria receives British delegation

ZALIN, Syrian — A delegation from the United Kingdom headed by the British Deputy Consul in Erbil, Jamie Hamill, visited the Foreign Relations Commission of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) in North and East Syria this week. The delegation was received by Deputy Co-Chair of the Commission Abeer Elia, head of the unit’s Europe department Shewaz Khalil, and representative of the Women’s Protection Units’ (YPJ) Public Relations Office  Lana Hussein.

They discussed the overall situation in North and East Syria, as well as the need for the international community to resolve the issue of families associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) who remain detained in Al-Hol Refugee Camp. The British delegation praised the efforts of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the DAA in fighting terrorism.

The two sides also discussed the current situation in the region in general and North and East Syria in particular, in terms of economic, humanitarian, and security conditions and their repercussions across the country. 

Elia indicated that the DAA has repeatedly called on the international community to establish an international court for ISIS members, or to provide political and economic support to the DAA to build rehabilitation centers for children and further expand public services.

In turn, Deputy Consul General Hamill praised the important role played by the SDF in confronting terrorism, stressing the need to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria and noting that the Syrian regime continues to wage war against the Syrian people. He stated that the United Kingdom is committed to holding accountable all those who committed the crimes in the country and to continue the UK’s partnership with the SDF in confronting ISIS.

At the end of the meeting, the delegation received into its custody two British orphans from ISIS families, according to an official agreement between the DAA and the United Kingdom.