Representatives from the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) were excluded from the high-level Syrian National Dialogue Conference, as it convened at the Al-Sha’ab (People’s) Palace in Damascus on 25 February, garnering widespread criticism.
Attended by 600 participants, the event featured a keynote address by Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly al-Julani). “Syria has invited all of you today… to consult with each other on the future of your country,” al-Sharaa declared, placing an emphasis on the indivisibility of the nation, while failing to invite representatives from the autonomous region.
The conference declaration outlined key proposals for restructuring Syria’s state institutions, focusing on political governance, economic reform, defence strategy, and human rights. It emphasised the need for the state to retain exclusive control over weapons, called for a modern national army, and declared any armed groups operating outside official state structures illegal, implicitly targeting Kurdish-led forces and factions refusing to disarm post-Assad.
“Syria is one and inseparable; its strength lies in its unity,” al-Sharaa added. “The unity of arms and their monopoly by the state is not a luxury but a duty and an obligation.”
In the wake of the conference, the AANES and various political and legal figures strongly criticised the exclusion of Kurdish representatives. They argued that sidelining key stakeholders such as the AANES undermines the potential for lasting stability in Syria.
AANES issued a statement asserting that the organisers of the conference do not represent the full spectrum of Syria’s diverse political and social components. It criticised the event as being predicated on the rejection and marginalisation of Syria’s various ethnic and religious identities, failing to reflect the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition. It categorically rejected the resolutions and made clear that it would not participate in their implementation.
“We call on the Syrian people to persist in our struggle to realise the goals of the [Rojava] revolution, honour the sacrifices that have been made, and fulfil the aspirations and demands of our people,” AANES stated.
Salih Muslim, a Democratic Union Party (PYD) executive contended that any meaningful dialogue or reform must include all sectors of Syrian society to achieve a sustainable and inclusive resolution to the country’s protracted crisis. Kurdish representatives had been deliberately excluded because the organisers of the conference “do not believe in democracy”, Muslim said. He accused the Syrian government of maintaining close ties with jihadi factions and seeking to impose an Islamic regime.
Muslim also argued that an inclusive and participatory democratic model had been established in North and East Syria that was by nature “inherently incompatible” with the interests of a nation-state system. He asserted that the Damascus government deliberately excluded Kurdish representatives to push for integrating the SDF into the Ministry of Defence, reiterating that while the SDF supports a unified Syria, Kurdish-led forces will maintain their autonomy.
“The Syrian Democratic Forces is an independent military institution with its own structures and command. The remarks made at the conference merely expose deep-seated prejudice against the Kurds."
He also rejected Turkish and Israeli interference in Syria, asserting: “If external actors refrain from meddling in Syria’s affairs, its people can reach a consensus and shape their own future. Any foreign force seeking engagement must respect the will of the Syrian people and uphold democratic principles—both essential for Syria’s democratisation.”
Muslim also emphasised the significance of an anticipated call for peace by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan from his Turkish prison, describing it as a potential turning point in the region’s political landscape. “Turkey attempts to frame us as an extension of the PKK, yet millions of Kurds deeply respect Mr Öcalan and embrace his ideas. The release of his historic message could usher in a new phase in the political process. To this day, our actions remain firmly rooted in the intellectual foundation he has laid,” he said.
Political activists from Tabqa Canton condemned the event as a setback for Syria’s diversity. Ibrahim El Mihemed of the Future Syria Party criticised the rushed, exclusionary process, driven by foreign interference, and warned it reflected the repressive mindset that sparked the Syrian crisis, hindering political pluralism and freedom.
Kurdish leaders advocate for a new Syria based on inclusive dialogue and a democratic model, where all communities—including Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian, Armenian, and Alawite—can participate equally. They reject external interference, especially from Turkey, and oppose Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) for its caliphate-style rule, calling for a Syria that respects the rights of all ethnic and religious groups, ensuring a unified and democratic nation.
