ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Monday that there are ongoing talks between Damascus and the Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava), adding that the Kurds are willing to restrict weapons to the state’s hands but did not hide that there are disagreements.
“The states supporting the SDF are in agreement on the unity of the Syrian state and controlling weapons in its hands,” Sharaa told pro-government Syria TV in an interview aired on Monday, referring to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). “There are negotiations to resolve the northeastern Syria file with the SDF.”
The US-backed SDF is the de facto army of Rojava.
“The SDF has shown willingness to restrict weapons to the state's hands, but there are disagreements on some details,” Sharaa elaborated.
The SDF has repeatedly said that it is willing to join the new security apparatus but with conditions.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi told AP on Sunday that in principle they want to be part of the defence ministry, adding that they have sent a proposal to Damascus regarding the issue and “ “we are waiting for the response.”
The Rojava administration on Sunday condemned the new authority in Damascus for recently holding an “illegal” conference with the participation of “terrorists.”
The new authorities in Syria on Wednesday held an unprecedented conference in Damascus, dissolving all armed groups and the country’s parliament while abolishing the country’s constitution. They also officially declared Ahmed al-Sharaa the new leader of the country. The key participants of the event included commanders from Sharaa’s Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the pro-Turkey Syrian National Army (SNA). It was an all-military and all-men meeting.
