Syriac Union Party Co-Chair Sanharib Barsom: Syrian regime is not in position to impose its conditions for dialogue 

BETH ZALIN, Syria — On Thursday, the political parties of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria issued a statement calling on the Syrian regime to initiate a serious and responsible national dialogue that would lead to a political solution. 

Co-Chair of the Syriac Union Party (SUP) Sanharib Barsom stated to North Press Agency that the DAA is always prepared and open to engaging in a dialogue with the Syrian regime. 

Barsom added that previous meetings with the Syrian regime had not resulted in dialogue or agreement on many matters and emphasized the DAA’s call for renewed dialogue. He asserted that any agreement that can be reached between the DAA and the Syrian regime towards a political solution would have benefits for all Syrians. 

The Syrian regime is not in a position to unilaterally impose its conditions in any future dialogue that may take place, Barsom pointed out. 

The autonomous governance that would become the DAA was established in 2012 following the withdrawal of Syrian government forces from the area. 

Home to around two million people, the areas governed by the DAA were relatively stable and peaceful compared to other parts of Syria thanks to the efforts of the DAA in promoting democracy, human rights, and minority rights. 

The Syrian regime does not recognize the DAA and it considers it to be a separatist movement, despite DAA officials repeatedly stating the contrary. The Syrian regime has repeatedly attempted to regain control over the region and has used military force and economic sanctions to pressure the DAA. 

The DAA has been excluded from the United Nations-led peace talks on Syria, which have been focused on negotiations between the Syrian regime and opposition groups. The exclusion of the DAA from these talks has been criticized by many, who argue that an organization that governs a third of the country and millions of people should be heard in any discussions about Syria’s future. 

The political impasse between the Syrian regime and the DAA has led to a number of challenges for the people of North and East Syria. The Syrian regime has imposed a blockade on the region, which has severely limited the flow of goods and services into the area. This has led to shortages of basic necessities, such as food and medicine, and it has caused the price of goods to skyrocket. 

The situation in North and East Syria is made worse by the fact that Turkey has also blockade the region and cut off access to the Euphrates River, causing water shortages and hindering agricultural production. Turkey invaded and occupied several regions previously administered by the DAA, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians and causing the destruction of homes and infrastructure.