Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has signalled that he is open to dialogue with the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria, aiming for political solutions in the coming months.
According to a source who spoke to Independent Arabic on Saturday, Assad revealed plans to initiate dialogue with the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria during a meeting on 4 May of Syria’s ruling Ba’ath Party. This announcement, made in the context of significant leadership changes within the party, highlighted a shift towards political rather than military solutions for the region.
The meeting was chaired by Assad himself, who expressed the government’s intention to reach political solutions with the Autonomous Administration “within a few months”, signalling a potential softening of relations with the Kurdish-led entity. The approach excludes any military operations in northeastern Syria, as confirmed by sources close to the meeting.
The Syrian president’s remarks underscore a strategic pivot towards dialogue and reconciliation in a conflict that has persisted for over a decade, although there has been no direct contact between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration to date. The statements come amid internal party reforms and a reaffirmation of the Ba’ath Party’s crucial role in addressing national challenges and ensuring its governance aligns with contemporary needs.
The Syrian government’s proposal for dialogue arrives at a time when the Autonomous Administration controls key strategic areas, including oil and wheat fields vital for Syria’s economy. The move could pave the way for a more cooperative approach in managing the country’s diverse regional dynamics and resources.
Ahmed of AANES remains skeptical
Ilham Ahmed, a prominent figure within the Autonomous Administration, responded cautiously to these developments. Speaking to Independent Arabic, Ahmed downplayed the significance of the recent changes within the Ba’ath Party’s leadership, suggesting that these alterations are more about internal party dynamics than substantive political reform. “What happened is within the party context and is not likely to influence the general political changes; it is purely a party procedure,” Ahmed stated.
Furthermore, Ahmed expressed skepticism about Damascus’s understanding of the Autonomous Administration’s project, hinting at unrealistic perceptions by the Syrian government. Despite this, she revealed that there is an ongoing exchange of messages between the two parties, indicating a tentative but not fully realised openness to dialogue.
Ahmed concluded her remarks by urging Syrian forces to embrace what she called “the language of the Syrian homeland,” reflecting the Autonomous Administration’s vision for a national project aligned with Syrian interests.
