Syria
The preparatory committee formed by the new Syrian administration for the National Dialogue Conference on February 12, 2025. Photo: SANA
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish National Council (ENKS) on Thursday censured the absence of Kurdish representation in the committee formed by the new leadership in Damascus to lay the groundwork for a National Dialogue Conference.
ENKS, an umbrella group of Kurdish opposition parties in northeast Syria (Rojava), told Rudaw that ENKS was “not consulted about” the formation of the seven-member committee. The group’s spokesman, Faisal Youssef, criticized the absence of Kurds, adding that his group is “following this issue and will have an official stance about it."
The committee was established under the directions of Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on February 11 and was officially announced on Wednesday. Sharaa tasked the committee, which notably includes two women, with “approving internal regulations and setting criteria to ensure the success” of the anticipated conference.
Following his appointment as transitional president on January 29, Sharaa vowed to hold a National Dialogue Conference and to form “an inclusive transitional government that reflects Syria’s diversity.” He also stated that the conference would pave the way for “free and fair elections.”
Sharaa further stated he would form a small legislative body to fill the parliamentary void until the new elections are held.
On January 30, Sharaa added that the National Dialogue Conference aims to examine the “different points of view on our future political program” and “would be followed by a constitutional declaration,” likely referring to the drafting of a new Syrian constitution.
Meanwhile, an international conference on Syria is scheduled to be held in Paris on Thursday. While Damascus is pushing for sanctions relief at the key conference, observers are urging governments to link any such relief to concrete benchmarks, including commitments to an inclusive political process.
ENKS, an umbrella group of Kurdish opposition parties in northeast Syria (Rojava), told Rudaw that ENKS was “not consulted about” the formation of the seven-member committee. The group’s spokesman, Faisal Youssef, criticized the absence of Kurds, adding that his group is “following this issue and will have an official stance about it."
The committee was established under the directions of Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on February 11 and was officially announced on Wednesday. Sharaa tasked the committee, which notably includes two women, with “approving internal regulations and setting criteria to ensure the success” of the anticipated conference.
Following his appointment as transitional president on January 29, Sharaa vowed to hold a National Dialogue Conference and to form “an inclusive transitional government that reflects Syria’s diversity.” He also stated that the conference would pave the way for “free and fair elections.”
Sharaa further stated he would form a small legislative body to fill the parliamentary void until the new elections are held.
On January 30, Sharaa added that the National Dialogue Conference aims to examine the “different points of view on our future political program” and “would be followed by a constitutional declaration,” likely referring to the drafting of a new Syrian constitution.
Meanwhile, an international conference on Syria is scheduled to be held in Paris on Thursday. While Damascus is pushing for sanctions relief at the key conference, observers are urging governments to link any such relief to concrete benchmarks, including commitments to an inclusive political process.
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