PM Barzani says intensive efforts underway to sustain ceasefire in Rojava

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Thursday that recent meetings in Erbil and international engagements were aimed at preserving the ceasefire in northeastern Syria (Rojava) and creating space for a lasting political understanding amid escalating tensions.

Speaking from Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Prime Minister Barzani said the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had prioritized mobilizing international support to halt violence against Kurds in Syria.

“We focused heavily on garnering international support to bring an end to the conflict and clashes, and to stop the unjust attacks being carried out against the Kurdish people in Rojava,” he said.

The renewed diplomatic push comes as the security situation in Syria has sharply deteriorated in recent weeks. Since mid-January, the Syrian Arab Army and affiliated armed groups have advanced into areas previously held by the Kurdish-led SDF in eastern Aleppo, as well as parts of Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and the Kurdish-majority Hasaka province, raising fears of wider confrontation and instability.

Prime Minister Barzani stressed that extensive diplomatic outreach had taken place with global leaders.

“We have made a great effort with world leaders; we discussed this issue in great detail and held serious talks about it. We hope it yields results and, God willing, moves toward an end to the war, stability, and peace,” he said.

He added that Kurdish officials had sought to clearly convey realities on the ground while pushing for collective backing of peace efforts.

“What we were able to do was both present a picture of the reality on the ground - explaining exactly what is happening in Kurdistan to those leaders and officials - and on the other hand, make serious efforts to ensure all parties support the implementation of peace so that this war finally comes to an end,” Prime Minister Barzani said.

Expressing concern over public anxiety, Prime Minister Barzani noted that calming fears was a central objective of his engagements in Davos.

“As there is a great deal of anxiety and fear among the people of Kurdistan [Region], we hope that this anxiety will cease and lead toward an agreement that ultimately establishes a stable peace,” he said. "This was our primary goal; although we came for economic matters, this became the main topic of our conversations and discussions with the officials and leaders we met.”

Barzani also referenced a high-level meeting held on Thursday in Erbil between US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi.

“From what I have heard, a meeting was held today in Erbil between Mr. Mazloum Abdi and Mr. Tom Barack,” he said. “Based on what I know so far, they have roughly reached an agreement to continue the ceasefire and provide an opportunity to reach a mutual understanding, allowing for peace and stability to take effect. We hope that the war does not recur.”

On Thursday in Erbil, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani separately met with SDF Commander Abdi to discuss the latest developments in Syria, efforts to maintain the ceasefire, and the resumption of dialogue between the SDF and Damascus.

According to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the meeting also addressed the risks of an ISIS resurgence and emphasized the need to protect the rights of Kurds and all other communities within a unified Syria.

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