The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Chief Mazloum Abdi stated on Thursday that they are exerting efforts to safeguard negotiations with Damascus on the integration deal, according to Al-Arabiya.
Integration 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.
Abdi’s remarks came on the heels of deadly clashes that outbroke in Aleppo between the two sides before their respective leaders ordered a ceasefire.
Abdi also affirmed the SDF’s commitment to the integration deal, emphasizing that both sides are striving toward a ‘mutual understanding’ on military integration and counter‑terrorism, while vowing continued rounds of dialogue with Damascus.
Playing down the year‑end deadline, he said that the deal ‘set no fixed timetable for its conclusion, nor for any return to military solutions.’
In this context, he stressed that ‘every effort is being made to avert the collapse of this process,’ noting that failure is not possible.
Calling for Decentralization
In his remarks, the army chief reiterated his call for decentralization, the same demand he requested in May, when Kurdish parties hosted a significant conference to introduce a unified vision for the country’s future after the ousting of Bashar Al-Assad.
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, 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.
Official Visit
On December 22, a high-level Turkish delegation visited Damascus to discuss bilateral ties with Syria and the issue of integration.
“We see the SDF has no intention to make too much of an advance (towards integration),” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Damascus after talks with Al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and others.
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.
“The SDF is running some of its operations in coordination with Israel, (and this) is actually a major obstacle to ongoing negotiations with Damascus,” Fidan added.
New Proposal
To advance the process, 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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