Paris meeting to address Kurdish representation in Syrian institutions – Analyst

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The upcoming Paris meeting is expected to address key issues such as local governance, resource management, Kurdish political representation in national institutions—including the government and parliament—and matters related to education, language rights, and the official recognition of academic certificates, Isaac Andakian, an expert in international crisis management, said on Wednesday.

“This could represent a significant step toward long-term political stabilization and Kurdish reintegration within a restructured Syrian state,” Andakian added. 

A high-level meeting is scheduled to be held in Paris between representatives of the Syrian transitional government and the SDF. Sources suggest this meeting could mark the beginning of efforts to reintegrate the SDF into the Syrian state.

In exclusive statement to North Press, Andakian said that British National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell’s visit to Damascus on Tuesday signals a politically charged diplomatic move, noting that the visit comes at a critical time as Syria faces a series of deepening internal crises.

“The visit comes at a time when Syria is grappling with mounting internal instability that threatens national security and cohesion,” the expert indicated.

He noted to a series of recent events as evidence of systemic fragility, including violent unrest along the Syrian coast, growing tensions in Suwayda, attacks targeting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Aleppo countryside, and the bombing of Mar Elias Church in Damascus’s Duwaila neighborhood. “These incidents reflect a deep structural crisis within Syria’s political system, where marginalized communities—particularly those misaligned with the regime—face exclusion or direct targeting,” he added.

According to Andakian, Powell’s visit may be interpreted as a Western attempt to reassure Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities and to pressure the Syrian government to uphold social pluralism. He suggested that such pluralism could be a precondition for any potential easing of Western economic sanctions on Syria.

“Through this visit, the UK appears to be playing a coordinating role on behalf of Western powers, seeking to reset the political equation in Syria,” Andakian explained. “It’s a move reminiscent of a modern diplomatic version of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’s’ involvement in the region.”