The Presidential Body of the Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) held a meeting on Sunday in the city of Heseke. The meeting was attended by Layla Qaraman, co-chair of the MSD and Mahmoud al-Mislat, Co-chairman of the MSD. Also, Janda Muhammad, Amjad Othman, Ali Rahmoun, Ghassan al-Youssef and Afram Ishaq, deputies of the co-chairs, participated in the meeting in addition to co-chairs of the MSD’s offices.

The participants in the meeting observed a minute of silence to remember the martyrs of freedom. After that, the political situation and the most important developments internationally, regionally and locally were evaluated. The impact of the ongoing events in the region on the local scene in Syria was discussed.

Qaraman talked about the importance of working to neutralize the Syrian arena from the repercussions of the international and regional conflicts in the region, especially the events witnessed by the Gaza Strip and their impacts on the geopolitical and humanitarian levels. She stressed that the Syrian crisis needs national solutions and initiatives that will avoid the country more tragedies, especially since the Syrian people have been suffering from a miserable situation for 13 years. She also emphasized the importance of working to enhance the MSD’s status and its relations with the influential countries in Syria, and stressed the need to focus on the vital role of the Arab countries in resolving the Syrian crisis.

Additionally, al-Mislat stressed the importance of working to pressure the international community regarding the Syrian issue for taking priority, coming up with a political solution and implementing UN Resolution 2254 without exclusion. He emphasized the necessity that the MSD be a main party in the negotiations. Also, he renewed the emphasis on the need to work and national dialogue with all parties, especially the MSD had a roadmap of the political solution including the interests of all Syrians in light of the state of fragmentation and division that the country has suffered from. He hopes the national and democratic powers affiliated with the MSD  come up with a consensus among Syrians through the intra-Syrian dialogue and developing MSD’s relations with influential actors.

The meeting discussed the conditions of the Syrians in various Syrian regions, and what the Syrian people suffer from as a result of dire living and economic conditions inside Syria and in the countries of asylum. The meeting also discussed violations that the Syrians have been exposed to in the areas under control of the Turkish occupation and factions affiliated to it in northern Syria.

The meeting continued the political evaluation of the overall situation and the MSD’s role after the Fourth Conference, which confirmed in its strategy the importance of cooperation among the Syrians as a basic starting point for resolving the crisis in Syria and establishing a decentralized democratic state. It was emphasized mainly that the political solution is the best path to end ISIS terrorism and its extremist thoughts.

In the context of coordinating joint efforts, it was agreed to send a message to the leadership of the National Coordination Body for the Powers of Democratic Change, with the aim of resolving the outstanding matters that have occurred recently. It was confirmed that open dialogue and building trust would contribute to overcoming the challenges that face the joint work.

The meeting also stressed the importance of the peaceful movement that the city of Suwayda and its countryside witness. It warned of attempts to drag the movement into dangerous conflicts led by external entities, as it emphasized the importance of national dialogue with various democratic powers and figures in order to enhance the joint cooperation regarding national issues.

The meeting also discussed the developments of the situation in Deir ez-Zor, and the importance of enhancing cooperation among the MSD, representatives of civil society and tribal leaders. It urged thwarting attempts aimed at undermining the security and stability of the region.

The agenda of the meeting included discussing the organizational matters, mechanisms of work of the MSD’s offices and reviewing the plans of each office on the framework of strategy approved by the General Council at its last meeting. The officials of the specialized offices presented their plans and projects and discussed them in order to advance the MSD at various levels. The Co-chairs of the MSD stressed the importance of the offices performing their roles and plans, and the necessity of effective integration among them to achieve the vision of the MSD and implement the concepts of the roadmap for resolving the Syrian crisis.