Syria’s Kurdish National Council: Joint Delegation to Engage Damascus Based on Unified Kurdish Vision
By Kardo Roj
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A senior official in the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS) stated on Friday that a joint Kurdish delegation will soon be formed to negotiate with the Syrian government and other stakeholders, following the outcomes of the recent Kurdish Conference held in April.
Speaking to North Press on the sidelines of a political symposium in Kobani, Suleiman Oso, a member of the ENKS Presidential Body, said the delegation will engage in talks with Damascus “based on the unified Kurdish political vision” developed during the April 26 conference.
The event in Kobani, held at the Euphrates Hall, was organized by ENKS’s local council and attended by representatives of Kurdish political parties, independent figures, and members of the public.
Oso emphasized that core principles had already been agreed upon by various Kurdish actors ahead of the April conference, and that efforts are now focused on implementing the next steps, including the formation of a unified delegation.
Although no specific date has been announced, Oso said the delegation will be established through coordination among ENKS, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
“This delegation will be formed as soon as possible,” Oso noted. “Our goal is to begin dialogue with the Syrian government and other national components about the outcomes of the Kurdish Conference and the vision it articulated.”
Addressing criticism from Turkey regarding the Kurdish Conference, Oso stressed that the political initiative is not directed against any neighboring country.
“Our direction is not against any neighboring state, including Turkey,” he said. “On the contrary, we seek to build positive and respectful relations with all countries in the region.”
He added that the Kurdish movement’s objective is to reassure neighboring states, particularly Turkey, and to pursue Kurdish demands within a unified Syrian framework.
“Our message is clear: We aim to strengthen coexistence, not confrontation. We want Kurds to achieve their rights as part of a united Syria.”
Asked about the Syrian government’s reaction to the Kurdish Conference, Oso said the country remains fragmented in practice but that the Kurdish political project aims to unify Syria rather than divide it.
“Syria today is effectively fragmented,” he explained. “Our vision is one of unity. Kurdish unity does not come at the expense of Syria’s unity or any other community.”
Oso added that the empowerment of the Kurdish population should be seen as contributing to Syria’s overall strength, not as a threat to national sovereignty.
“We want to maintain constructive relationships with all parties in Syria, including the authorities in Damascus,” he said. “The strength of the Kurds is the strength of Syria.”
The Kurdish Conference held in April was hailed by organizers as a major step toward intra-Kurdish reconciliation and political alignment in northeastern Syria. The event brought together major Kurdish parties, civil society representatives, and military leaders, with the aim of presenting a unified political platform ahead of future negotiations with Damascus.
Efforts to unify the Kurdish position in Syria have long been hampered by rivalries between the ENKS, which is supported by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Iraq, and the PYD, which leads the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria and is ideologically aligned with the PKK.
Observers say the planned joint delegation, if successfully formed, could represent a breakthrough in intra-Kurdish relations and provide a stronger foundation for engaging in talks with the Syrian state on Kurdish cultural and political rights.
Whether the Syrian government will respond positively remains to be seen, but the initiative reflects a growing recognition among Kurdish leaders that unity is essential to advancing their cause in any post-conflict political arrangement.