Bashar al-Assad attended a meeting of the Ministry of Foundations in Damascus on 7 December to discuss a number of issues. The Northern and Eastern Syrian Autonomous Administration responded with a written statement arguing against Bashar al-Assad’s remarks regarding the diversity of Syria.

According to Hawarnews, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria took issue with Bashar al-Assad’s statement targeting the cultural and religious diversity in Syria. “This statement deepens the Syrian crisis through a policy of denial and exclusion that undermines cultural and religious diversity. A few years ago this conversation did not come up with a solution and there was no hope for positive results”.

The statement continued: ”So far, no effort has been made to find a correct solution to 10 years of the Syrian crisis. Many parties, including the Syrian regime, still ignore the current situation. This mistake has a great impact on the deepening of the crisis and the increasing suffering of the Syrian people.

“They still believe that this attitude of denial will solve the crisis after the destruction, murder, displacement, occupation and terror. However, it is known that the reason for all these tragedies is being denied”.

‘Multi-ethnicity in Syria is denied’

Acccording to the Autonomous Administration’s statement, Bashar al-Assad did not fully assess the situation in the country and denied the multi-ethnicity of Syria. They claim that the government is not yet open to changes and all parties should protect the interests of Syria and its people.

”Assad’s mention of the majority in Syria contradicts the changes sought in Syria and the efforts to build a new Syria. It is an open rejection of other populations in Syria, including Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians, Circassians and so on”.

‘Denial’ does not serve Syria’s future

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria emphasised that Syria needs to use a diversity of languages to explain the current situation. The attitude of denial destroys the social, cultural and religious wealth of Syria, they said. ”It does not serve the future of Syria and the unity of the Syrian people. On the contrary, it facilitates the attempts to divide social unity”.