MESOP NEWS : NETHERLAND FM MET WITH KURDISH CONTRA PYD/PKK LEADER IBRAHIM BIRO IN THE HAGUE – Dutch FM meets with Syrian Kurdish leader to discuss KNC role in truce plan

September 16, 2016 – ARA News  – ERBIL – The Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders, on Thursday met with Ibrahim Biro, the head of the Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC).

Koenders and Biro, who met in The Hague on Thursday, discussed the recent developments in northern Syria and the role that the KNC could play as part of the opposition for a future Syria, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said. The meeting comes as part of preparations for an extended meeting on Syria to discuss an initiative by the Netherlands during the UN General Assembly next week.

Koenders previously met with Riyad Hijab, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) of the Syrian Opposition. The Dutch Minister said that the first steps are made in order to reach a peaceful solution for the Syrian conflict.  This comes just a few days after the United States and Russia announced a truce plan in Syria. “It’s important that with this agreement we create the conditions to start negotiations,” Minister Koenders said. “The situation in Northern Syria is very complex with many actors. It’s important that we try everything to prevent a further escalation of the conflict.”

“Kurdish regions should get a special status with enhanced powers, as part of asymmetric decentralization,” it added. www.mesop.de