Former U.S. Secretary of Defense visits Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — The former U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller with an accompanying delegation visited the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), in a first of its kind visit to the region.

He was received by Co-Chairs of the Executive Council Berivan Khalid and Hussein Osman, as well as Deputies of Co-Chairs of the Executive Council.

They discussed the latest political developments in the region in general, and North and East Syria in particular. In addition to introducing the AANES democratic experience and the challenges it faces in economic, social and service terms.

The U.S. delegation held meetings with several AANES bodies and offices. It stressed the need to protect the gains of AANES in the face of terrorism and achieve security and stability in the region. The need to support the AANES politically and economically to be able to eliminate all forms of terrorism where also touched on.

The Foreign Relations Department stated that Miller visited its headquarters, and met with its Co-Chairs Badran Jia Kurd and Samar Abdullah, as well as their Deputy Rubel Bahho.

The Foreign Relations Department stressed the need to protect the gains of AANES and U.S. support.

Miller stressed that the issue of prisons and camps, that shelter members of the Islamic State (ISIS) and their families, needed more support and efforts.