Aldar Xelil, co-chair of the executive committee of northern Syria’s Democratic Union Party (PYD), has confirmed that a Kurdish delegation will soon hold talks with the Syrian government. The delegation will address key political, economic and military issues, focusing on securing regional autonomy within a federal Syria. “We are preparing a negotiation agenda that includes amending Syria’s constitution and recognising the Kurdish issue,” Xelil stated in a post on X.
The discussions will involve recognising Kurdish rights and integrating Kurdish-led security forces into Syria’s national framework. However, these talks face significant challenges, as the Syrian government insists on a centralised state and rejects proposals for federalism. Xelil warned that the Syrian government’s insistence on centralisation would lead to the division of Syria and potentially cause a civil war.
Despite these obstacles, Xelil remains hopeful for a positive outcome, highlighting the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a pivotal moment that could prompt a change in Turkey’s stance towards northeast Syria. In an interview with Reuters, he further elaborated, “The dissolution of the PKK has created a foundation for Turkey to ease tensions and change its stance.”
Xelil also emphasised the importance of including all Syrian groups in the talks. In his X post, he stated, “We will not accept policies that marginalise the rights of other Syrian communities, such as Alawites and Druze.” He reiterated that the Kurdish forces are not an extension of the PKK and that their future would be discussed directly with Damascus. “We will not accept Turkey’s demand that we disarm,” Xelil affirmed.
These talks are seen as a crucial step in shaping Syria’s political future, with both sides preparing for a complex and challenging negotiation process, as Xelil stated to Reuters.
