ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish National Council (KNC/ENKS) on Monday criticized the organization of Syria’s upcoming National Dialogue conference as “rushed,” and censured the “marginalization” of some of the country’s key components as a “violation” of national partnership.
In a statement, the ENKS slammed what it said was a “violation of the principle of national partnership” and emphasized that meaningful dialogue “cannot achieve its objectives” unless it addresses “the legitimate rights of all components fairly.” The statement underlined that such an approach is essential to reach a just political solution.
The ENKS statement also criticized the conference’s “selective” invitations, pointing out the “lack of balanced representation” and questioning whether the conference could achieve its stated goal of shaping Syria’s future.
The National Dialogue Conference is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. It is regarded as a key step in Syria's political transition, following the December 8 offensive by opposition groups - led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - which toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
On January 29, leader of the HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed as Syria’s interim president. He pledged to convene the National Dialogue Conference to pave the way for the formation of a new Syrian government.
ENKS on Monday reaffirmed its position on the political transition in Syria in what “ends the suffering of Syrians and lays the foundation for a decentralized democratic state that is multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multicultural.”
The group reiterated its demand for a constitution that guarantees the rights of all people, including Kurds, in accordance with international treaties and conventions.
This criticism comes after a European Union official called on Syria’s new leadership to form an inclusive government, warning that EU sanctions could be reimposed if progress is not made in the “right direction.” This statement followed the EU Council’s decision to suspend some sanctions on key economic sectors in Syria.
