ENKS urges dialogue after unrest in Coast and Suwayda
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Kurdish National Council (ENKS) said Monday that recent events in Syria’s coastal areas, preceded by unrest in Suwayda, highlight the dangers of ignoring popular demands and continuing policies of marginalization and exclusion. The group warned that such approaches will not bring stability but instead deepen social tensions.
In a statement issued after a political seminar in Kobani, ENKS expressed concern over developments in Aleppo, particularly violations of existing understandings in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. The council condemned the ongoing siege of these areas, stressing that such measures negatively affect the broader Syrian situation.
The statement noted that Syria is undergoing a sensitive phase one year after the fall of the Baath regime. According to ENKS, communities across the country are seeking new horizons in politics, economy, and security, aiming to build a democratic, pluralistic state founded on justice, equal citizenship, and the rule of law.
ENKS emphasized that recent demonstrations in coastal regions were peaceful, with citizens voicing demands for a federal state, guarantees of rights for all Syrian components, reinstatement of employees dismissed arbitrarily, and improvements to deteriorating living conditions.
“It would have been more appropriate for security authorities to address these demands with dialogue and national responsibility,” the statement read, urging authorities to respond through peaceful means that build trust between citizens and institutions rather than resorting to violence, which only escalates tensions.
The council underscored the importance of safeguarding civil peace, condemning violence from any source, and rejecting attempts to push Syrian society toward internal clashes. It warned against exploiting peaceful movements in ways that distort their legitimate objectives.
ENKS also stressed that provocative or destructive acts should not be used as pretexts to restrict public freedoms or suppress freedom of expression.
The statement expressed regret over the continued stalemate regarding the participation of a joint Kurdish delegation in serious dialogue on a fair democratic solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria. ENKS insisted that this political track must not be separated from ongoing security and military understandings, including the March 10 agreement signed between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus authorities.
The council concluded by reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and peaceful solutions, calling for genuine engagement that addresses the aspirations of Syria’s diverse communities.