By Dilsoz Youssef
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Participants in the Conference on the Unity of Communities of northeastern Syria, held in the city of Hasakah on Aug. 8, stressed that the gathering called for national unity and the drafting of a new democratic constitution. They emphasized that it was not a call for secession or an attempt to undermine the March 10 Agreement, as some parties had claimed.
The conference saw broad participation from Arab tribal leaders, representatives of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), as well as religious and social figures from various Syrian communities. Meanwhile, parties close to the Syrian transitional government in Damascus viewed the event as an attempt to impose new political realities.
Positive step
In this context, Shaymaa Khalaf, member of the Central Council of the Syrian Homeland Party, described the conference as “a positive step, bringing together national, political, and civil voices.”
“The conference calls for the unity of the Syrian people’s components and it included many patriotic voices advocating for realistic and practical solutions that can be implemented on the ground to ease people’s suffering and foster a genuine societal culture.”
Khalaf noted that after the conference, social media accounts witnessed a wave of incitement and hate speech—the most dangerous byproduct of years of war in Syria.
She stressed that such discourse should not be confronted with repression or exclusion, but rather with alternative narratives that strengthen mutual recognition among communities and respect their right to political and national partnership.
She emphasized that “The conference stresses that the political solution begins with the March 10 Agreement and affirms that any solution must start with an inclusive national political dialogue that brings together all Syrian components.”
National necessity
Despite the controversy surrounding it, participants insisted the conference was a milestone for building trust among Syrians and reaffirming that the country’s future lies in a new democratic constitution that guarantees pluralism.
Imad Tataryan, General Adviser of the Armenian Councils, stressed that the conference was a national necessity.
He told North Press that there were many accusations that it was a call for secession or for establishing a separate entity. But those who attended know well that participants included Syrians from all backgrounds—Christians, Muslims, Yazidis, Druze, and Alawites. That alone proves the conference sought a united Syria, not a fragmented one, Tataryan noted.
He added, “What was presented and discussed at the conference should be considered the true nucleus for saving Syria from the bloody sea we are living through.”
“The transitional government must recognize that all components have rights in Syria. Syria does not belong to one religion, one sect, or one flag. Syria is vast enough for all.”
He explained that talk of federalism or decentralized governance does not mean secession, pointing out that many successful models worldwide show how communities can manage their local affairs without threatening the state’s unity. On the contrary, such systems reduce tensions and give everyone a sense of participation.
Continuation of March 10 Agreement
For his part, Fadi Jajjo, a member of the Syriac Union Party, said the conference was an opportunity to reaffirm unity.
He told North Press, “All the components of Hasakah are calling for Syrian unity and for the unification of Syria and its people.”
Jajjo added, “This conference succeeded because these diverse components came together to ensure the success of the March 10 Agreement, which calls for the unity of Syria and for preserving all its governorates as one whole.”
He stressed that if the goal were negative or separatist, such a large number of diverse communities would not have gathered together in one hall.