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Syria withdraws from Paris talks on Kurdish integration
The Syrian government announced on Saturday that it will not participate in planned talks in Paris regarding the future integration of the country’s semi-autonomous Kurdish administration into the Syrian state. Damascus insists that any future negotiations must take place in the Syrian capital.
This decision follows a conference held by the Kurdish-led administration in the country’s north and northeast, attended by representatives of various minority communities. It marked the first major political gathBashar al-ering since former president Bashar Assad was ousted by an Islamist coalition in December.
Among those present at the meeting was Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who had previously signed an agreement with interim President Ahmad al-Chareh on March 10. The deal outlined a roadmap for the integration of Kurdish civil and military institutions into the national framework.
The final statement from the conference called for a “democratic constitution establishing a decentralized state,” a concept strongly opposed by Damascus, which favors a centralized system.
“The conference undermined ongoing negotiation efforts. As a result, the government will not participate in any meetings scheduled to take place in Paris,” said a Syrian official quoted by state news agency SANA.
The official, speaking anonymously, urged international mediators to shift all talks to Damascus, “the only legitimate and national venue for dialogue among Syrians.”
Back in July, Syria, France, and the United States had agreed to organize a round of discussions in Paris “as soon as possible” to implement the March 10 agreement. However, recent ethnic tensions in the Druze-majority province of Sweida and March’s violent attacks on the Alawite community—closely linked to the Assad era—have further complicated the situation and raised Kurdish concerns about the peace process.
The conference also featured video addresses by prominent religious figures, including Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri and Alawite cleric Ghazal Ghazal. The Syrian government has recently criticized al-Hijri for appealing to Israel for protection during the July unrest and calling for international guarantees for the Druze population.
“No negotiations will be held with parties aiming to restore the pre-revolution regime or involving separatist elements engaged in hostile acts,” the official added, describing the event as an attempt to internationalize Syria’s internal affairs and encourage foreign interference.