External pressures stall negotiations between AANES, Damascus
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Ongoing negotiations between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government have not progressed as expected due to external interference, a senior Kurdish political figure stated on Sunday.
Foza Youssef, member of the Presidential Committee of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), told NorthPress that the AANES had proposed forming committees to resolve key disputes with Damascus, particularly concerning education, oil, and the operation of state institutions in the AANES areas.
“The purpose of these committees was to reach mutual understandings on these issues,” Youssef explained. “However, external interventions have obstructed the process, and the committees were never established.”
Youssef, who was involved in drafting the Social Contract for North and East Syria, reaffirmed AANES’ willingness to engage in dialogue and resolve outstanding matters with Damascus.
“We have no objections to re-operating state institutions in our regions, such as civil registry offices, border administration, oil management, and even airports,” she said.
According to Youssef, certain services should be available in North and East Syria even under a decentralized system. “We have no reservations about this, but there is a clear reluctance from Damascus to engage in talks or negotiations.”
She attributed the deadlock primarily to Turkey’s external pressure on Damascus, which has prevented the parties from moving forward.
So far, no formal meetings have taken place between the AANES and Damascus, aside from a single encounter between the SDF’s General Commander and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Youssef added.
Earlier this year, Ali Rahmon, Deputy Co-Chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), revealed that the Syrian caretaker government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had agreed in late 2024 to form military, economic, security, and administrative committees. Despite this, no substantial progress has been made.