To commemorate the ten-year mark of the Syrian crisis, Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, US Representative of the Syrian Democratic Council participated in panel discussions hosted by the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington DC.
“We were a part of this revolution with a very different vision,” said Ms. Mohamad, saying that, while the rest of the groups picked up arms and focused on winning on the battlefield, the first impulse that the people of North and East Syria had was to start setting up governance systems, supporting local councils, providing services, and other necessary functions to protect and service the people.
“If we look on the map, what do we see today?” asked Mohamad. “We can see a divided Syria. But we want a united Syria.”
“We are not looking for separation, we are looking for autonomy,” said Mohamad. “I don’t want to see Syria divided.”
These discussions were part of the Middle East Institute’s annual conference on Syria, which occurred online this year. Other panelists included: Nedal AlChaar, Former Minister of Economy and Trade and Chairman, Higher Investment Council, Syrian Arab Republic; former Secretary General, AAOIFI; former Director of Market Performance, Fannie Mae; former Vice President, Johnson & Higgins, Washington DC; Rafif Jouejati, Non-Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute & Director, Foundation to Restore Equality and Education in Syria; member, Syrian Women’s Political Network and Boards of Directors, The Day After and Baytna Syria; Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Representative of the Syrian Democratic Council to the United States; Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Founder and President, MedGlobal. The event was moderated by Clarissa Ward, moderator, Chief International Correspondent, CNN.
