Rojava official says integration talks with Damascus not merely theoretical
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The integration talks with the Syrian transitional government are not merely theoretical, as practical steps have already been taken in this regard, a member of the northeast Syria’s (Rojava) delegation negotiating the process with Damascus told Rudaw on Friday.
The Syrian foreign ministry claimed on Friday that talks between Rojava and Damascus are only theoretical, adding that no concrete steps have been taken. The statement was in response to a speech by Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in which he reported progress in the talks and an initial agreement.
Yasser Sulaiman, a member of the Rojava committee holding integration talks with Damascus, backed Abdi’s positive stance on the process.
“The first stage was to form an official negotiating team on our side for the purpose of finalizing this agreement. We are working on it seriously and making efforts to ensure its success, and we have taken practical steps toward signing the final agreement in order to begin its implementation,” he told Rudaw.
Abdi said on Thursday that the SDF had “reached a mutual understanding” with Syria’s transitional government regarding the future of the SDF and the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava. Abdi stressed that a new Syria should adopt decentralization, according to the pro-SDF Rojava TV.
Despite this, the Syrian foreign ministry said the dialogue has not produced “tangible results,” adding that “it appears this discourse is being used for media purposes and to absorb political pressures, amid actual stagnation.”
Sulaiman also said that Syria will have only one army “with diverse components." The SDF will reportedly be divided into three divisions, including one for its all-women unit.
“The issue of the army is linked to Syria’s unity. There cannot be two armies in Syria… Everything that happens will be within the framework of one army and one military institution.”
Some aspects of the March agreement have been implemented, including prisoner exchanges. However, disagreements remain over key issues, particularly governance. Damascus favors a centralized system, while Kurds and other minorities have called for decentralization or federalism.
Talks to implement the accord have since been ongoing, but the two sides remain divided over how the SDF should be integrated. While Kurdish negotiators favor incorporating the forces as a unified bloc, the Syrian side prefers absorbing SDF fighters individually into regular army units.
“Whether we like it or not, we are moving toward a form of decentralization. We want the people of the provinces to elect their own governors and mayors,” Sulaiman said.
The Syrian foreign ministry claimed on Friday that talks between Rojava and Damascus are only theoretical, adding that no concrete steps have been taken. The statement was in response to a speech by Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in which he reported progress in the talks and an initial agreement.
Yasser Sulaiman, a member of the Rojava committee holding integration talks with Damascus, backed Abdi’s positive stance on the process.
“The first stage was to form an official negotiating team on our side for the purpose of finalizing this agreement. We are working on it seriously and making efforts to ensure its success, and we have taken practical steps toward signing the final agreement in order to begin its implementation,” he told Rudaw.
Abdi said on Thursday that the SDF had “reached a mutual understanding” with Syria’s transitional government regarding the future of the SDF and the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava. Abdi stressed that a new Syria should adopt decentralization, according to the pro-SDF Rojava TV.
Despite this, the Syrian foreign ministry said the dialogue has not produced “tangible results,” adding that “it appears this discourse is being used for media purposes and to absorb political pressures, amid actual stagnation.”
Sulaiman also said that Syria will have only one army “with diverse components." The SDF will reportedly be divided into three divisions, including one for its all-women unit.
“The issue of the army is linked to Syria’s unity. There cannot be two armies in Syria… Everything that happens will be within the framework of one army and one military institution.”
Some aspects of the March agreement have been implemented, including prisoner exchanges. However, disagreements remain over key issues, particularly governance. Damascus favors a centralized system, while Kurds and other minorities have called for decentralization or federalism.
Talks to implement the accord have since been ongoing, but the two sides remain divided over how the SDF should be integrated. While Kurdish negotiators favor incorporating the forces as a unified bloc, the Syrian side prefers absorbing SDF fighters individually into regular army units.
“Whether we like it or not, we are moving toward a form of decentralization. We want the people of the provinces to elect their own governors and mayors,” Sulaiman said.
Nalin Hassan contributed to this article from Erbil.