Austrian delegation meets with officials in North and East Syria, takes custody of Austrian nationals for repatriation

BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — On 29 February, senior officials from the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) hosted a high-level Austrian delegation to discuss political, humanitarian, and security developments in the region. The dialogue centered on DAARNES’s vision for resolving the Syrian crisis and addressing the challenges of ongoing conflicts.

The Austrian delegation was led by Deputy Head of Security Affairs at the Austrian Foreign Ministry Günter Riesner. He was accompanied by Advisor in the Security Affairs Department Andreas Adler.

They were welcomed by Deputy Co-Chair of the DAARNES Foreign Relations Commission Robel Baho, member of the Foreign Relations Commission Administrative Board Khaled Ibrahim, and representative of the Women’s Protection Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Jin, YPJ) Lana Hussein.

Focus on Decentralization and Inclusive Dialogue

During the meeting, DAARNES officials presented their perspective on a political solution for Syria, advocating for a decentralized governance model. They criticized the Syrian National Dialogue organized by the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) in Daramsuq (Damascus), noting its exclusion of political forces from DAARNES-controlled areas and its failure to reflect Syria’s ethnic, sectarian, and cultural diversity.

Highlighting Turkish Attacks and Humanitarian Crises

DAARNES officials also condemned Turkey’s continued military aggression in the region, citing attacks on the Tishrin Dam and the Qara Qozak Bridge as destabilizing acts.

Additionally, they outlined the dire humanitarian situation in detention camps housing Islamic State-linked families, which has worsened since the US Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended aid.

Austria’s Commitment to Engagement

Riesner reaffirmed Austria’s commitment to addressing the Syrian crisis, emphasizing a holistic approach with particular attention to North and East Syria. He expressed Austria’s support for ensuring that all communities in the region receive their rights.

He also indicated that European nations would explore ways to support local forces following the withdrawal of US assistance to detention camps.

Repatriation of Austrian Citizens

The visit concluded with DAARNES transferring custody of four Austrian nationals, two women and two children, linked to the Islamic State as part of an agreement between the parties. Riesner thanked DAARNES and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for their cooperation in facilitating the repatriation.