Latest news with #KurdishUnityConference
Shafaq News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Syria's KNC rejects government criticism: Division UNACCEPTABLE
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, the Kurdish National Council (KNC) dismissed the Syrian government's criticism of a recent political initiative, affirming that the joint Kurdish vision supports unity, not separation. Suleiman Oso, a member of the Council's Presidential Body, told Shafaq News the strategy adopted at the Kurdish Unity Conference in Qamishli is 'a collective expression of Kurdish aspirations and does not advocate for federalism or autonomy without national consensus.' 'Any attempt to impose a de facto division or create separate entities without a comprehensive agreement is unacceptable,' he said, responding to a Syrian Presidency statement that opposed any efforts to establish federalism or self-administration. The Kurdish official urged the Syrian interim government to avoid repeating 'past mistakes' and adopt new approaches that prevent division and destruction, stressing that Kurdish unity efforts are not directed against other Syrian communities or neighboring countries. 'Syria's strength comes from the strength of its components.' 'Our vision calls for a decentralized political system that ensures pluralism and constitutionally guarantees the Kurdish people's rights, in line with international conventions,' he explained. 'Lasting stability in Syria requires respect for diversity, genuine dialogue, and inclusive negotiation based on the will of all Syrians.' The April 26 conference brought together Kurdish political parties, independent figures, and delegations from the Kurdistan Region and Turkiye. It adopted a unified Kurdish platform as a basis for dialogue among Kurdish actors, as well as with Damascus and other Syrian forces. During the event, Hameed Darbandi, head of the Syrian dossier at Iraq's Kurdistan Region Presidency, read a letter from Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, expressing full support for any effort to bridge Kurdish political divides in Syria.
Shafaq News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Qamishli Conference: 400+ Kurdish leaders convene on Syrian unity
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, the Kurdish Unity Conference opened in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli, bringing together more than 400 political and independent figures from Kurdish parties across Syria, Iraq's Kurdistan Region, and Turkiye, alongside religious leaders and independent personalities. Delegates arrived early at the Qamishlo Hall in Azadi Park, where the conference commenced with a speech by General Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Abdi emphasized that Kurdish unity does not threaten Syria's territorial integrity but rather strengthens it, underscoring the Kurdish people's longstanding struggle for a united Syria. "The strength of the Kurds is the strength of Syria," Abdi said, stressing that Syria's future constitution should be decentralized and guarantee the rights of all its communities, including Kurds. Following Abdi's remarks, Hameed Darbandi, head of the Syrian dossier at Iraq's Kurdistan Region Presidency, read a letter from Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani. In his message, Barzani thanked Abdi for his role in facilitating the conference, expressing full support for any effort aimed at bridging Kurdish political divides in Syria. Barzani reaffirmed that Syrian Kurds have long suffered from oppression and denial and called for a new Syria that secures rights for all its components. He described the formation of a unified Kurdish delegation as a vital step toward safeguarding Kurdish entitlements and urged stronger ties with other Syrian communities to promote national unity. Additional speeches were delivered by representatives of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), and the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), all highlighting the critical need for Kurdish solidarity amid escalating regional and international challenges. The conference is led by a presidium composed of Mohammad Ismail, head of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS); Ilham Ahmed, head of external relations for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES); and Berwin Youssef, co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD). At noon, the conference was closed to media coverage as participants entered closed-door sessions to discuss a draft political vision, which is expected to be ratified by the end of the meeting.
