Kurdish delegation to visit Russia ahead of new Syria talks: ENKS
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Russian officials will receive a delegation from the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) on Tuesday in preparation for new Syria peace talks in Geneva, a council member told Rudaw on Sunday.
“Our delegation is visiting Russia because once again all countries who have roles are trying to continue Geneva for a political solution. Russia is still playing a main role in Syria, especially regarding drafting of the constitution,” Ibrahim Biro, a member of the delegation, told Rudaw.
The delegation has been officially invited by the Russian foreign ministry. It will meet with Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, who is also the Russian President’s envoy for the drafting of Syria’s new constitution.
The delegation will be led by Si’ud Mala, the head of the ENKS, and includes Kamiran Hajo, Ibrahim Biro and Hawas Agid.
Syria’s new constitution is expected to be drafted under the supervision of the UN.
Biro said the preservation of Kurdish rights and the federal system are the ENKS’s main demands for the constitution.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), control territory in northern Syria liberated from ISIS with international coalition air support.
Now that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has all but won the Syrian civil war with Russian backing, having negotiated a rebel withdrawal from districts around Damascus, a new constitution will have to factor in the extent of Kurdish autonomy in these northern areas.
“Our delegation is visiting Russia because once again all countries who have roles are trying to continue Geneva for a political solution. Russia is still playing a main role in Syria, especially regarding drafting of the constitution,” Ibrahim Biro, a member of the delegation, told Rudaw.
The delegation has been officially invited by the Russian foreign ministry. It will meet with Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, who is also the Russian President’s envoy for the drafting of Syria’s new constitution.
The delegation will be led by Si’ud Mala, the head of the ENKS, and includes Kamiran Hajo, Ibrahim Biro and Hawas Agid.
Syria’s new constitution is expected to be drafted under the supervision of the UN.
Biro said the preservation of Kurdish rights and the federal system are the ENKS’s main demands for the constitution.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), control territory in northern Syria liberated from ISIS with international coalition air support.
Now that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has all but won the Syrian civil war with Russian backing, having negotiated a rebel withdrawal from districts around Damascus, a new constitution will have to factor in the extent of Kurdish autonomy in these northern areas.