ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Syria’s new foreign minister in Munich on Saturday amid concerns that Kurds are being excluded from discussions in Damascus about the country’s future. Barzani and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani discussed “the political and security developments in Iraq and Syria and ways to enhance regional stability,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region’s Presidency. The Kurdish president emphasized the importance of resolving outstanding issues “through dialogue and understanding” and working together with all of Syria’s constituents to achieve a “stable future for all,” according to the statement. The interim administration in Damascus is planning to hold a National Dialogue Conference that will pave the way for elections. Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday announced the establishment of a preparatory committee to lay the groundwork for the conference. However, the committee has come under fire from Kurdish parties in northeast Syria (Rojava) for its failure to include any Kurds. The Kurdish National Council (ENKS) said that “the exclusion of Kurdish representation” from the preparatory committee “undermines political and ethnic pluralism” and “the genuine representation of all national components.” Barzani in his meeting with Shaibani raised the importance of “protecting the rights” of Syria’s ethnic and religious components - including its Kurdish population - and “ensuring their participation” in building Syria’s future, according to the statement from his office. On his part, Shaibani reaffirmed Syria's commitment to “achieving stability and creating favorable conditions for national dialogue,” according to the Kurdish statement. The Syria foreign minister further emphasized “Syria's desire to strengthen its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and enhance joint cooperation to face current challenges,” the statement added.
