Latest news with #SyrianKurds
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Kurdish delegation heads to Damascus for talks
DAMASCUS: A delegation from northeast Syria's semi-autonomous Kurdish administration was headed to Damascus on Saturday for talks on implementing a March deal to integrate Kurdish institutions into the state, a member of the delegation said. Under the agreement signed by Syria's interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurds are to integrate their civil and military institutions into the national government. The deal includes all border crossings, oil and gas fields, and a regional airport. A member of the Kurdish delegation said that 'a delegation from the autonomous administration is on the way to Damascus to discuss' details of the March deal. Despite the accord, the Kurds have criticized a constitutional declaration announced by the new authorities, who took power after ousting Bashar Assad in December, and said the new government failed to reflect the Syrian Arab Republic's diversity. Last month, Syrian Kurdish parties adopted a joint vision of a 'decentralized democratic state,' a move rejected by Damascus, which warned against attempts at separatism or federalism by the minority group. The March agreement states that the Kurds are an 'essential component of the Syrian state,' guaranteeing the 'right to citizenship and all ... constitutional rights.' Syria's Kurds suffered marginalization and repression under Assad's rule, being deprived of the right to speak their language and celebrate their holidays and, in many cases, of Syrian nationality. Earlier this month, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani warned that delaying the implementation of the deal would 'prolong the chaos' in the country. In an interview broadcast by Shams TV, based in Irbil in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region, SDF chief Abdi said that 'we are committed to what was agreed with Damascus and we are currently working on implementing this agreement.' He emphasized the need for a 'decentralized Syria where all its components live with their full rights and nobody is excluded.' But he accused Syria's new authorities of wanting centralization and of 'not being ready for everyone to live in Syria.' Kurdish-led forces took control of much of Syria's northeast, including its oil fields, during the country's civil war and the Daesh insurgency. With support from a US-led international coalition, the Kurdish-led SDF played a key role in Daesh's territorial defeat in Syria in 2019. Abdi said all Syrians should benefit from Syria's oil wealth but said the Kurds wanted 'an autonomous administration to govern locally and for the people of the area to manage security and political institutions.'
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.
Rudaw Net
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq, France FMs discuss regional stability, security ties
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein received his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Baghdad on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation, especially in the economy, security, and defense sectors. 'I received today in Baghdad Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between our two friendly countries, especially in the economic, security, and defense sectors,' Hussein said in a statement on X. The talks also addressed 'developments in the region' and the need 'to prevent conflicts' and work towards 'containing them and their effects.' They also discussed 'the importance of confronting the threat of ISIS and the role of the [US-led] Global Coalition in this regard.' Later in the day Hussein and Barrot held a joint press conference. The Iraqi foreign minister described his country's relationship with France as strong and based on long-standing cooperation. 'Our relationship with France is extensive. France played a key role in the [US-led] international coalition during our fight against ISIS,' Hussein said. In addition to being an active member in the US-led Global Coalition to defeat ISIS, France has deployed troops in northeast Syria (Rojava) and has recently joined the Americans in their efforts to unite Syrian Kurds through facilitating intra-Kurdish talks that have been stalled for years. The two officials also discussed enhancing defense cooperation, including possible arms purchases from France, and further addressed the ongoing threat of terrorism in Syria and strategies to counter it. 'We support Syria's stability as part of efforts to build an inclusive political process,' Hussein said. The foreign ministers also expressed their backing for the revived Iran-US talks. Hussein highlighted Iraq's backing of the renewed engagement between Washington and Tehran over the latter's nuclear program, stressing that diplomacy remains the only path to achieving peaceful and constructive outcomes. A new round of talks between the US and Iran began between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff about Iran's nuclear program and sanctions relief began in Oman in mid-April.
Rudaw Net
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
SDF, Syrian forces begin joint oversight of Kurdish-majority neighborhoods in Aleppo
Also in Syria SDF-Damascus deal vital for Syria's future: Rojava's US rep Syria needs sanctions lifted for economic recovery: former UN official SDF chief, gov't envoy discuss implementing SDF-Damascus deal Syrian Kurds in talks with Damascus over future of key dam A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Damascus-aligned forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday began to jointly manage security in Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods of northern Aleppo, marking a significant step in a wider deal to integrate the Kurdish-led force into Syria's state institutions. The coordinated effort saw the two sides begin 'removing barriers and checkpoints on the streets of the two [Kurdish majority] neighborhoods' of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh, as well as 'other neighborhoods across Aleppo,' according to the SDF-affiliated Hawar News Agency. The development follows a 14-point agreement signed in early April between the Syrian leadership and the SDF. The deal covers a prisoner swap and outlines a framework for joint security oversight in Aleppo, including in Kurdish-majority neighborhoods that were previously under the control of the People's Protection Units (YPG). The YPG, which represents the backbone of the SDF, has begun withdrawing from the area in accordance with the deal. Two groups of YPG fighters, 400 on April 4 and another 500 on April 9, have reportedly exited the neighborhoods. The deal has also facilitated the exchange of 243 detainees from both sides. Notably, the April agreement builds on a landmark deal signed in early March between Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed to 'integrate all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria [Rojava] under the administration of the Syrian state, including border crossings, the [Qamishli International] Airport, and oil and gas fields.' The agreement emphasizes that 'the Kurdish community is indigenous to the Syrian state, which ensures this community's right to citizenship and all of its constitutional rights.' It further calls to implement a ceasefire across all Syrian territories and ensure the return of all displaced Syrians to their towns and villages.
Shafaq News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Syrian Kurds unveil unity roadmap for a "Pluralistic Syria"
Shafaq News/ Syrian Kurdish political factions will unveil a long-awaited joint political vision on Friday, laying out a roadmap that underscores Kurdish rights and aims to shape the future of a pluralistic Syria, a senior source told Shafaq News Agency on Sunday. The announcement is set to take place at a major conference in the northeastern city of Qamishli, where around 300 participants are expected, including senior figures from the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), other political parties, civil society organizations, and youth and women's unions. Delegates from the US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi, and a representative of Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani are also slated to attend. 'The joint vision offers a roadmap toward a democratic, pluralistic Syria that safeguards the rights of all communities while preserving the country's unity through a federal system built on justice and equality,' the Kurdish source told Shafaq News. Ties between the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) have remained tense for years, with both sides trading blame for deepening divisions among Syrian Kurds since the outbreak of the uprising in 2011.
