ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish leader President Masoud Barzani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met separately on Monday with Mazloum Abdi, former chief of the now-dissolved Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and adviser to the Syrian president, to discuss the future of Kurds in Syria, regional developments, and efforts to secure peace and stability.
During his meeting with President Nechirvan Barzani, the two discussed the situation of Kurds in Syria and the latest regional developments, emphasizing the importance of “preserving security and stability,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a statement.
President Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s support for a “safe and stable Syria” in which “the rights of Kurds and all components are protected,” according to the statement.
Abdi, in turn, praised President Barzani’s “position and support for the rights of Kurds” and his efforts to achieve peace and stability, the presidency said.
Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), separately received Abdi, with their discussions focusing on Syria’s political situation and regional developments, as well as “the future of Kurds in Syria” and efforts to resolve outstanding issues and ensure stability, Barzani Headquarters said in a statement.
The meetings comes as senior Iraqi and Kurdish political leaders, diplomats and regional policymakers have gathered in Erbil for the annual Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum, during which discussions on regional security, political deadlock, Kurdish rights and the future of the Middle East would be held. Abdi is scheduled to speak at Panel seven of the annual Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum in Erbil on Tuesday.
The meeting comes as Syria continues to grapple with questions of governance, security, and the rights of its diverse communities, particularly Kurds.
Damascus and its affiliated forces launched a military offensive against the SDF in January, capturing areas held by the Kurdish-led force since the withdrawal of the ousted Syrian government’s military in 2012 following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War (2011-2024).
Subsequently, the Syrian interim government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the SDF signed an agreement in January to accelerate the then stalled integration process. Accordingly, Kurdish officials were appointed to key governmental positions, including the governor of the Kurdish-majority Hasaka province and deputy defense minister. The SDF’s leader, Abdi, became an advisor to the Syrian presidency in August after he announced the dissolution of the group.
Speaking at the annual Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum in Erbil on Monday, President Nechirvan Barzani said progress on security integration and Kurdish education in Syria was encouraging, but stressed that lasting progress required the rights of Kurds and other communities to be enshrined in Syria’s permanent constitution.
“Perhaps no more could have been done than what they did. That was all that was possible,” he stated.
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