Kurds in Syria seek to unify demands for talks with Damascus
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Preparations are underway to hold a general conference in the city of Qamishli, northeastern Syria, aimed at unifying Kurdish demands and establishing a mechanism for dialogue with the new administration of Syria.
This came simultaneous with U.S. and French meetings with both sides of the intra-Kurdish dialogue in Syria to resume negotiations.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a joint French-American delegation has met multiple times with the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS) and the Kurdish National Unity Parties (PYNK) to restart the dialogue that has been stalled for four years.
Participants
Nusreddin Ibrahim, a member of the preparatory committee for the Kurdish conference, revealed that preparations have been ongoing for some time, with numerous meetings held among the PYNK parties and groups outside the Kurdish dialogue framework to discuss Kurdish demands in Syria.
Ibrahim, who is the Secretary of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (al-Parti), told North Press that invitations have been sent to Kurdish parties, nonpartisans, and civil society organizations to participate in the conference. He noted that most of the invited parties have agreed to attend.
Ibrahim also mentioned that over 60 percent of the representation would be nonpartisan individuals, with at least 40 percent of the total representation allocated to women from both parties and nonpartisans.
He also noted that a communication committee has been formed to engage with ENKS and involve them in the preparatory and follow-up committees to collectively draft a Kurdish charter addressing the Kurdish issue.
Syrian Kurds are demanding constitutional recognition of their identity and rights, self-administration of their regions, and political decentralization in Syria.
Kurdish dialogue
The organizers of the conference aim to gain legitimacy from the Kurdish population, resume the intra-Kurdish dialogue, and form a joint delegation for negotiations with the new Syrian administration, according to Ibrahim.
Ibrahim expressed hope that the ENKS would participate in the conference, which is not a substitute for the intra-Kurdish dialogue.
He added that they are ready to resume the dialogue with ENKS from where the talks left off four years ago. At that time, the two sides, under U.S. sponsorship, had reached a joint political document.
He emphasized the importance of the Kurdish dialogue in achieving a unified Kurdish platform with a single set of demands for any negotiations with Syrian and international parties.
Although both sides consistently express willingness to resume the dialogue, the process has been stalled for four years, ever since an initial memorandum of understanding was signed.
On Jan. 5, Scott Bowles, the U.S. envoy to northern Syria, met with the ENKS in Qamishli. Faisal Youssef, spokesperson for ENKS, stated in a previous interview with North Press that the U.S. envoy emphasized the need for unity in the Kurdish position and vision in Syria and supported Kurdish people’s rights as an ancient population in Syria.
Youssef added that discussions touched on the formation of a unified Kurdish delegation to represent political demands in Syria. He also relayed Bowles’ view that the new Syria must accommodate all ethnicities and components.
While Syrian Kurdish parties outside the dialogue table emphasize its importance, their visions differ on the format, participation mechanisms, and decision-making process.