Syrian Kurdish National Conf. to be held before end April: Sources
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Syria's Kurds have postponed the national conference for a third time, amid mounting pressure for a united Kurdish stance as negotiations with Damascus loom ahead.
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Residents celebrate following the signing of a breakthrough deal between Syria's interim government and the SDF, in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, late Monday, March 10, 2025 (AP)
Syrian Kurds have postponed their national conference for the third time after it was originally scheduled for April 18, due to disagreements among the organizers of the conference.
The push for this conference came after joint US-French pressure on both the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which leads the Autonomous Administration, and the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), rival factions that have been in on-and-off negotiations since 2012 to unify Syria's Kurdish political forces.
Regional and international pressure on both sides intensified after the fall of the previous regime last December.
The deadlock showed signs of breaking following a visit by Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the SDF, to Iraq's Kurdistan Region, where his meeting with President Masoud Barzani reaffirmed their commitment to Kurdish unity in Syria.
ENKS and PYD at odds
The two sides held three consecutive meetings, the most recent mediated by Abdi, with both pledging to move past political disputes and prioritize consensus, amid growing urgency to present a unified Kurdish position in negotiations with Damascus' new leadership.
The push for unity gained momentum after ENKS withdrew from the "Syrian Coalition," which later dissolved itself, signaling a political willingness to reach final agreements on Kurdish demands in post-war Syria.
The core dispute centers on ENKS' demand to deploy its affiliated "Rojava Peshmerga" forces with security powers in SDF-controlled areas, plus shared governance of local councils under the Autonomous Administration.
These discussions were postponed due to the SDF's potential integration into Syria's new military structure.
The ENKS continues to advocate for a "decentralized federal system" across Syria, while the PYD rejects this approach, insisting instead on applying its model of "decentralized self-administration" currently practiced in northeast Syria to all Syrian provinces in a manner that protects the rights of all communities.
Washington, Paris pressure sides to resolve differences
Amid these disagreements, Washington, Paris, and Iraqi Kurdistan are working to pressure both sides to overcome all disputes, announce a Kurdish-Kurdish reconciliation, and convene an inclusive national Kurdish conference involving all parties.
Kurdish sources revealed to Al Mayadeen that "the Democratic Union Party sought to impose a fait accompli by announcing the conference for the 18th of this month, given its critical timing during this pivotal phase in Syria's developments," while noting that disagreements over the procedural manner in which the meeting was announced ultimately led to its postponement.
The sources confirm that "both parties agree on the importance of this step to unify Kurds in Syria, with ongoing efforts to overcome all obstacles," while suggesting that "an agreement on a new date for the conference before the end of this month is likely."
The spokesperson for the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), Faisal Youssef, stated in media remarks: "Once all necessary procedures and arrangements are completed – many of which have already been accomplished – an official announcement will be made regarding the convening date of the Kurdish National Conference."
