According to a statement by the Kurdistan National Assembly of Syria (KNAS), a delegation representing KNAS and the Kurdish National Congress of North America headed by Sherkoh Abbas met on June 22 with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and with members of the US Congress, as well as with State Department officials.
The statement further said, "The delegation attended discussion was concerning the status of Kurdish people in Syria and explained the views of the Kurdistan National Assembly of Syria. In addition, the delegation highlighted the gross violations against the Kurdish nation's human and national rights by the Syrian regime." It added, "These measures have resulted in lack of economic development, and have been accompanied by denial of publishing, broadcasting and education rights in Syria's Kurdish region or Kurdistan of Syria. The delegation stressed the necessity of an immediate end to these gross violations of the Kurdish human and national rights."
The Assembly also reportedly asked the Senate Foreign Relations Committe for a law "to liberate Syria, not in the same way Iraq was liberated, but in a peaceful manner," and asked for "greater support for the Syrian opposition."
Abbas also spoke to AKI about the visit and described the meetings as "constructive." He added, "we specified a number of goals and requests, including cooperation with Syrian opposition parties, Arab, Druze, Alawite, and others, and working with them in a common front." (Arabic. 6/27/06).
Abbas added that the meeting with the Senators "was coordinated a while ago," since "the US still supports our cause." He also said that the meeting with members of Congress touched on "offering financial aid through setting aside a budget for the Kurdish movement in Syria." As for the size of that aid Abbas said, "it would be determined by Congress next year."
He finally said that the US officials "were positive about supporting the Kurdish movement in Syria and developing it to be in step with opposition movements in the region."
Before the meeting, Abbas gave an interview to Radio Free Iraq (Arabic. Iraqhurr.org, 6/21/06). KNAS was formed after an inaugural conference in Brussels on May 27-29 (Arabic. kurdusa.com).
Meanwhile, Kurdish human rights sources in Syria said that the Syrian authorities have confiscated Kurdish lands and uprooted fruit trees owned by Kurds in the Raqqa province. The same sources added that lands and orchards owned by non-Kurds were not touched. In the aftermath of the incident, six Kurds were referred to a military court without any explanation. (Arabic. Levant News, 6/25/06)