ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian government has reaffirmed its readiness for dialogue with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to bolster national unity, while firmly rejecting any moves toward division or federalization, reiterating its unwavering commitment to the principle of “one Syria, one army, one government.”
In a statement late Wednesday, the interim government welcomed “any path that would enhance the unity and territorial integrity of Syria." Damascus emphasized its firm stance against any deviation from a unified state, reiterating its “adherence to the principle of 'one Syria, one army, one government,’ and categorically rejecting any form of division or federalization,” the statement read.
The Damascus government further cautioned against delays in implementing agreements, including the landmark March deal between SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi and Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, cautioning that “any delay... does not serve the national interest, but rather complicates the scene.”
Abdi and Sharaa signed the agreement in early March to “integrate all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria [Rojava] under the administration of the Syrian state,” including the SDF. The deal also called for the incorporation of “border crossings, the [Qamishli International] Airport, and oil and gas fields,” while recognizing that “the Kurdish community is indigenous to the Syrian state, which ensures its right to citizenship, as well as all of its constitutional rights.”
In its Wednesday statement, Damascus again encouraged the integration of SDF fighters, stating that “the Syrian army is the unifying national institution for all citizens.” It also extended gratitude for “the American efforts made in sponsoring the implementation of this agreement.”
Importantly, these remarks came on the heels of a key visit by United States Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday, during which he met with Sharaa.
Speaking to Rudaw, Barrack noted that the pace of SDF negotiations with Damascus has been “slow,” while stressing that federalism in Syria “doesn’t work,” adding, “You can’t have independent non-nation states within a nation.” He urged the SDF to “speed things up,” stressing, “there is only one road, and that road is to Damascus.”
Kurds in Rojava, like other minorities in Syria, remain concerned about the centralization of power and reliance on Islamic jurisprudence in the transitional constitution that has been adopted by the interim government in Damascus.
The Kurdish-led and US-backed SDF played a pivotal role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, contributing significantly to the group’s territorial defeat in 2019. It continues to serve as the de facto military force in Rojava.
Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by the now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - then headed by Sharaa - toppled the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Sharaa was appointed interim president in late January.
While Sharaa has pledged to form an “inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria’s diversity,” he continues to face domestic and international criticism over his perceived marginalization of minority communities.
