Syria is set to welcome a high-level Turkish delegation today, December 22, to discuss bilateral relations and the implementation of a landmark deal signed between Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to Reuters.
The Turkish delegation consists of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and Head of Turkey’s MIT Intelligence Agency, Ibrahim Kalin, and other senior officials.
The visit comes at a crucial time as Syrian, Kurdish and US officials are accelerating efforts to implement the integration.
Landmark Deal
In March, the Kurdish parties signed a landmark deal with the new Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to integrate their civil and military institutions into the Syrian state.
However, the SDF has been postponing the implementation of the deal due to some differences.
In May, Kurdish parties hosted a significant conference to introduce a unified vision for the country’s future after the ousting of Bashar Al-Assad.
Call for Decentralization
As a major component of Syria, Kurds “must present a solution and a project proposal for the future of Syria,” Eldar Khalil, an official in the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, said.
Moreover, SDF Chief Mazloum Abdi called for “a new decentralized constitution that includes all components” of society.
Rejecting Federalization
In response, the Syrian government utterly rejected decentralization system and refused “any form of division or federalization.” It also urged SDF fighters to integrate into the army.
Turkey has also rejected any plans that may undermine Syria’s central government or threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Turkey & Kurdish Parties
Ankara considers the US-backed SDF a terrorist organization and has repeatedly noted that it expects the group to abide by the deal to disarm and integrate into Syria’s state institutions.
Moreover, it sees SDF as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group. Therefore, Ankara demands the disarmament and dissolution of the SDF in harmony with the ongoing disarmament between the Turkey and the PKK.
Turkey further noted that the integration must include that the group’s chain of command is broken.
Damascus has recently unveiled a proposal to the Kurdish party, suggesting the government’s openness to reorganizing the SDF’s approximately 50,000 fighters into three main divisions and smaller brigades as long as it gives up some chains of command and welcomes other Syrian army units into its territory.
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Kurdish Leader Reaches Preliminary Deal to Integrate SDF into Syrian Government
Turkey Says SDF Breaching Deal with Damascus, Damaging Syria’s Unity
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