Media: Kurdish-led delegation heads to Damascus for high-stakes talks with Syrian government

A source has told Syria TV that a delegation from the Autonomous Administration, tasked with negotiating with the Syrian government, is heading to the capital, Damascus, to begin discussions on what were described as “complex files” between the two sides.

The source stated that the delegation would be discussing the terms of the agreement signed between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, on 10 March 2025, Caliber.Az reports.

According to the source, and based on logistical arrangements coordinated with the international coalition, the delegation is scheduled to arrive in Damascus on May 27, unless technical delays push the visit back by a day or two.

The delegation includes: Fawza Youssef, a member of the Presidential Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD); Abdul Hamid al-Mehbash, head of the Future Syria Party; Ahmad Youssef, the co-president of the Finance Authority in the Autonomous Administration; Sanharib Barsoum, head of the Syriac Union Party; and Sozdar Haji, a senior commander in the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). The official spokespersons for the delegation, Maryam Ibrahim and Yasser Suleiman, are also accompanying the group.

According to the source, the discussions will focus on the future of civil and security institutions under the Autonomous Administration and how they might be integrated into state institutions. Talks will also cover education, natural resources in northeastern Syria, and the structure of local administrative divisions and their relationship with the central government.

Separate delegation to discuss “Kurdish rights”

A senior Kurdish source clarified that the delegation travelling to Damascus is not authorised to discuss national or political rights for the Kurdish people. Instead, a separate delegation specialising in the Kurdish issue will be formed in the coming days, based on a “joint political vision document.”

The source added that the current delegation from the Autonomous Administration is solely concerned with the future of governance institutions in areas such as Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, and Hasakeh, and is not mandated to negotiate on Kurdish national or political matters.

Kurdish parties had earlier adopted a shared political vision during a conference held in Qamishli on April 26, 2025. The document calls for a “decentralised democratic state” that guarantees Kurdish rights and ensures women’s participation in political and military life. The conference called for the document to serve as the basis for dialogue with the new authorities in Damascus.

“No compromise on the demand for decentralisation”

Senior Kurdish leader Badran Jia Kurd said on May 26 that “pluralistic decentralisation in managing Syria’s political system is a non-negotiable demand.”

The Autonomous Administration’s adviser stressed that “a decentralised, pluralistic, and democratic Syria is the best solution to all the current unresolved issues,” asserting that the centralised governance model is no longer acceptable as it ignores the unique nature of the country’s regions and communities.

He added that “this proposal will be one of the core issues on the negotiating table and cannot be abandoned,” noting that a committee representing various Kurdish parties will “soon head to Damascus” to discuss the constitutional rights of the Kurdish people, without specifying an exact date.

Jia Kurd confirmed that dialogue with the Syrian government is ongoing and involves “difficult and complex issues,” requiring “more trust-building between both parties than ever before.” He concluded by stating that “a centralised mindset in handling critical issues without genuine partnership and actual power-sharing renders the negotiation process inherently slow and complicated.”

Key Terms of the Al-Sharaa-Abdi Agreement

The agreement signed between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi included several major provisions. Chief among them was the integration of all civilian and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the framework of the Syrian state, including border crossings, the airport, and oil and gas fields.

The deal also recognised the Kurdish component as “an integral part of the Syrian state” and guaranteed “full constitutional rights,” while reaffirming the rejection of separatist calls, hate speech, and efforts to sow discord among Syria’s diverse communities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev