ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A delegation from northeast Syria (Rojava) met on Sunday with the committee appointed by Syria’s new leadership to finalize the landmark March agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus. The accord aims to integrate Rojava’s civil and military institutions under the authority of the Syrian state.
In a statement on X, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) announced that the first session with the Damascus-appointed delegation - “tasked with finalizing the [March] agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces” - was held in “a positive and constructive atmosphere.”
The session is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen mutual understanding, including on “the formation of specialized subcommittees to follow up on the implementation of the March 10 agreement,” signed by Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi.
The agreement outlines the integration of “all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria [Rojava] under the administration of the Syrian state, including border crossings, the [Qamishli International] Airport, and oil and gas fields.”
It further emphasized that “the Kurdish community is indigenous to the Syrian state,” affirming their full citizenship and constitutional rights. The agreement also called for a nationwide ceasefire and the return of displaced Syrians to their homes, under the protection of the Syrian state.
The DAANES statement noted that Sunday’s meeting explored “mechanisms to facilitate the return of displaced persons [including from Rojava] to their areas” and “addressing the obstacles hindering this return.”
The two sides further discussed ways to “resolve outstanding issues related to [student] exams and exam centers, in a way that ensures students’ rights and the integrity of the educational process.”
Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Kurdish authorities in Rojava have implemented their own curriculum - rejecting the Baathist-era education system and introducing Kurdish as a language of instruction for the first time.
The Rojava delegation also discussed “reactivating” the dossier of northern Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods to complete this file “in a manner that serves stability and civil peace.”
In early April, hundreds of fighters from the SDF, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), withdrew from these Kurdish-majority neighborhoods under a deal with Damascus. As per the agreement, SDF-affiliated internal security forces (Asayish) would be tasked with controlling security, while military units withdraw.
In a similar vein, member of the Damascus committee told the state-run Syrian news agency (SANA) on Sunday that the meeting with the Rojava delegation was “characterized by a spirit of responsibility and mutual concern for the national interest.”
Brigadier General Ziad al-Ayesh underlined the “consensus on several important dossiers, most notably the formation of specialized subcommittees” to follow up on the implementation of the Abdi-Sharaa agreement.
He echoed the points raised in the DAANES statement, highlighting consensus on the formation of subcommittees and on addressing challenges related to education and the return of displaced persons.
Both parties reaffirmed their “commitment to constructive dialogue and ongoing cooperation to support Syria’s unity and sovereignty and meet the aspirations of the Syrian people,” Ayesh said, adding that “another meeting will be held in the near future to continue discussions and follow up on implementation.”
The Sunday session comes as Kurds in Rojava, like other minorities in Syria, are concerned over the centralization of power and the reliance on Islamic jurisprudence in the transitional constitution adopted by Syria’s interim government.
Syria’s interim President Sharaa had pledged to form an “inclusive transitional government that reflects Syria’s diversity,” but has faced domestic and international criticism for allegedly marginalizing minority communities.
It also comes as Kurdish ruling and opposition parties in Rojava are also in talks to form a joint committee to officially present a list of Kurdish demands to Damascus, which include decentralization. This followed a historic intra-Kurdish conference in Qamishli last month.
Damascus condemned the conference, viewing it as a separatist move. However, SDF chief Abdi emphasized during the event that the aim of the conference was to strengthen Syria, not divide it.
