Bids taking place to restart Syrian-Kurdish talks in northeast
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A Kurdish source tells Al Mayadeen that a group of scholars and politicians are mediating between the Syrian government and the Kurdish administration.
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Kurdish fighters with the YPG armed groups wave their yellow triangular flag and wave their arms in the outskirts of Tal Abyad, Syria, June 15, 2015 (AP)
A group of non-partisan Syrian politicians, dignitaries, and academics have proposed an initiative to kick-start serious and effective dialogue between the Syrian government and the Kurdish autonomous administration in northeastern Syria, a Kurdish source told Al Mayadeen.
This initiative aims to find common ground and establish an agreement to resolve tensions between the two parties, and it was reported that neither party showed any objections to the prospect of peace talks.
French and US representatives recently met with members of the Kurdish autonomous administration and the Kurdish National Council, the source told Al Mayadeen, noting they urged the two to prepare for rounds of dialogue and to work towards unifying their perspectives.
"Both Washington and Paris have communicated to the involved parties that they do not oppose any initiatives for dialogue with either the Syrian government or the opposition, provided there is genuine intent behind these efforts," the source added.
The initiative is expected to take shape soon, with separate meetings planned with each side in the coming days, the source revealed. "The autonomous administration's plan to hold local elections has been temporarily postponed due to the launch of this initiative, especially given the Syrian government's objections and refusal to recognize these elections."
The need for dialogue between the Syrian government and the Kurdish autonomous administration has become increasingly urgent amid ongoing threats from Turkey to launch new military operations in the region. The source expressed optimism about the establishment of foundational agreements that could facilitate further dialogue and lead to mutually acceptable outcomes in the future.
This initiative is not the first of its kind. Russia has previously sponsored several meetings between the Syrian government and representatives from the Kurdish autonomous administration and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, these efforts faltered, primarily due to the Kurds' insistence on constitutional recognition of their autonomy.
The Kurdish reconciliation process has seen numerous initiatives from the Kurdistan Regional Government, the United States, and France, the latest being in 2020. Yet, these attempts also failed to produce any agreements between the parties.
The Kurdish National Council has consistently demanded the return of the Peshmerga Rojava forces to the region and the severance of the SDF's ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), while the Kurdish autonomous administration declined such measures, including giving the KNC any authority in the region.
The potential agreement faces several challenges, notably the presence of US forces in the region, which complicates any progress without American approval. Other contentious issues include the management of the region, especially its oil and gas fields.
