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1st visit of US Congress' member to North, East Syria
ANHA Hawar News Agency ^ | 27 Nov 2018, Tue - 07:25 | ANHA NEWS DESK

Posted on 11/27/2018 5:28:25 AM PST by Texas Fossil

A high-ranking US delegation visited the areas of northeastern of Syria to learn about the democratic experience applied on the ground, led by the member of the US Congress Thomas Alexander Garrett.

The delegation was received by the head of the External Relations Office of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North-East Syria; Abdul Karim Omar, the Vice-Chair of the Executive Council of the Administration; Elizabeth Korrea, and the Vice-Presidents of the External Relations Body in al-Jazeera region Sanaa Daham and Fener al-Kait at Sêmelka crossing border on November 23.

The member of the US Congress Thomas Alexander was accompanied with members of the Burma Free Organization, which is an independent medical organization working in the areas of wars and conflicts, Bassam Ishaq, the head of the Syriac Council and a member of the Political Body of SDC, and the Syrian businessman of American origins Paolo Jelalo.

The US Congress member Thomas Alexander Garrett has visited the north and east of Syria for five days, during which, the US Congress met representatives of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in al-Jazeera region in Amoda district, the Foreign Relations Body of al-Jazeera region, representatives of the Civil Autumns Administration in Manbij, the commanders of Manbij, al-Bab and Jarabulus Military Councils, as well as visit the line of contact between the fighters of Manbij Military Council and the mercenaries of the Euphrates Shield at the line of Sajour River. He also met with representatives of al-Tabqa, al-Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor Civil Councils.

The US Congress member met with the co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) Riyad Derar, the co-chair of the Executive Council of SDC Elham Ahmed, the members of the Presidency Body of Ain Issa city in addition to the co-chairs of the Executive Council of the Federal Democratic Council Fawza Yousef and Senharib Bersoum, the co-chair of the Executive Council Mansour Sellom in Qamishlo city and the member of the General Relations of the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) Aldar Khalil. The US congress member ended his meetings with the representatives of north-east of Syria by visiting the joint governor of al-Jazeera Region Hemidi Deham in Tal Alo village of Girkê Legê district.

This visit conducted by the member of the US Congress to see the status of the areas of north and east of Syria closely is considered the first of its kind.

We will also publish the details of the meetings of the US Congress member with the departments and councils he met later.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Syria; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: 5thdistrict; congressman; erdogan; kurdistan; meets; receptayyiperdogan; rojava; syria; thomasgarrett; tomgarrett; turkey; virginia
There is a very good image at the link of the Congressman being greeted. I tried to put it in the article as I posted it, but had scale issues with it. So you'll have to go to the link to see it.

I think I remember Senator Lindsey Graham stopping briefly in Kobane years ago. He did not stay long. I'm not aware of another.

Part of the issue is we have no official relationship with the Syrian Government in Damascus (Assad).

It is good that Congress sees the reality on the ground since ISIS was removed. With our help a great evil haa been removed and it has given the area a chance for a better life. A high price in Syrian lives has been paid to get to this point. I have only read about 2 U.S. lives lost. Stability is certainly better. This opportunity should not be lost now.

1 posted on 11/27/2018 5:28:25 AM PST by Texas Fossil
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To: Texas Fossil

“...the areas of northeastern of Syria to learn about the democratic experience applied on the ground...”

“Democratic experience”? I’m not trying to be mean...but, who are we trying to fool? Islam and democracy do not mix. And, Christianity wasn’t mentioned on that page.


2 posted on 11/27/2018 5:42:13 AM PST by moovova
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To: moovova

Well, Islam has nothing to do with what happens now in North Eastern Syria. All groups there are in support of a secular government.

This is not new, it has been ongoing for about 4 years that I am aware of. I know some of the people there. This is not propaganda.

Christians, Ezidi’s, Alevi’s, Muslims (Shia and Sunni, but not Islamist) are all accepted. I’m not aware of any Jews left there, but there were 400,000 Kurdish Jews that migrated to Israel in the 1950’s. (Arabs, Kurds and Syriacs all fought in the SDF against ISIS)


3 posted on 11/27/2018 6:08:46 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: Texas Fossil

I’ll pray for their success!


4 posted on 11/27/2018 6:36:51 AM PST by moovova
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To: moovova

I do too.

There are a growing number of converts, before it was very dangerous to do that. (not as much in Syria as other nearby nations)

There were 2 Christian churches in Efrin (Afrin) before Turkey Invaded. They were displaced by Turkey with their invasion and the ISIS and al Qaeda (Nusra) that were in the Turkey affiliated FSA.

There is a Christian Church in Kobani. Where the first victory over ISIS took place (with our air support) in 2014. There have always been Syriac Christians in Iraq and Syria. Other persecuted groups escaped genocide in Turkey, Iran, Iraq by fleeing to Syria. Northern Syria is far removed from Damascus, so the local always cooperated more than those near the capital.

I have some maps that show Christian communities in Iraq and Syria. There are (in some cases were) more than you think.

You might find these interesting:

The last one has a color legend for groups.

@AryanNewzad (Nineveh)
(Remake) Ethnographic map of Northern #Nineveh governorate link: http://u.osmfr.org/m/79220/ #twitterkurds
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/897522423096111105

@AryanNewzad (Aleppo)
(Remake) Pre civil war ethno-religious map of #Aleppo governorate. Interactive map: http://u.osmfr.org/m/151640/ #TwitterKurds #Rojava #Syria
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/906118023953645568

@AryanNewzad (Alevi Kurdish Towns)
Replying to @dersi4m
It is located here
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/906099663211810817

@AryanNewzad
Replying to @AryanNewzad
Small correction for the village, wrongly marked Druze.
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/897858492257550336

@AryanNewzad (Idlib)
Pre civil war ethno-religious map of #Idlib governorate link: http://u.osmfr.org/m/146938/ #TwitterKurds #Syria (repost)
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/897529003388485632

@AryanNewzad (Nineveh)
(Remake) Ethnographic map of Northern #Nineveh governorate link: http://u.osmfr.org/m/79220/ #twitterkurds
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/897522423096111105

@AryanNewzad (Mosul)
Replying to @Nucegihin
Here is one without the subdivides
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/889835237026430978

AryanNewzad (Raqqa)
(Remake) Ethnographic map of #Raqqah city neighborhoods. Interactive map: http://u.osmfr.org/m/151350/ #TwitterKurds #WrathOfEuphrates
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/889531404639449090

@AryanNewzad Jul 6 (Kirkuk)
(Remake) Ethnographic map of #Kirkuk governorate link:http://u.osmfr.org/m/154848/ #TwitterKurds #Kurdistan
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/882973849649909760

@AryanNewzad Jun 19 (Rojava)
Ethno-religious #map of #Rojava/Northern #Syria link: http://u.osmfr.org/m/151640/ #TwitterKurds
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/876874228812984320

Rojava Religious Map
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCtH7VzXUAY5tqN.jpg

@AryanNewzad (Nineveh with legend)
Detailed map ethno-religious composition of the #nineveh plains link: http://u.osmfr.org/m/153642/ #TwitterKurds
https://twitter.com/AryanNewzad/status/876785892576415745


5 posted on 11/27/2018 6:55:02 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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