Progress on Kurdish Integration Agreement in Syria Remains Limited, Says Syrian Foreign Minister
As-salamu alaykum, everyone. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani shared on Wednesday that no real steps have been taken yet to integrate the Kurdish-led militias in northeastern Syria into a national army governed from Damascus. Back in March, Damascus signed an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to bring them into a unified military, but so far, little progress has been made.
Al Shibani mentioned during a joint press conference with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara that unfortunately, all the talks have remained just words without real action. He urged the SDF to fulfill the consensus they had reached.
This follows recent high-level discussions involving Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and US envoys working to mediate between Damascus and the SDF. The US continues to support dialogue aimed at integrating the SDF into the official Syrian military.
However, challenges remain, especially after clashes in Aleppo where SDF units still control some neighborhoods. Syrian security forces took control of roads leading to Kurdish-majority districts following a truce.
Al Shibani criticized the SDF for being slow to take the right steps, warning that further delays would cause more harm and hinder efforts to combat terrorism. He hinted that political and economic mistakes might have slowed progress but stressed the importance of unity within Syrian society.
The areas controlled by the SDF hold significant natural resources like oil, gas, and major dams, such as the Tishreen Dam, which has yet to be handed over to central government forces. The SDF seeks some autonomy and federalism within the new army and governance, partly due to past sectarian violence against minorities, while Damascus insists on full control but promises to protect minority rights.
Turkey supports implementing the March agreement because it views Kurdish militias near its border as a security threat, linking them to groups it considers terrorist organizations. Both Turkish and Syrian officials agree that no terrorist group should exploit Syria’s instability.
The Syrian Foreign Minister's visit to Turkey also follows a recent agreement between the two countries on military cooperation, with Turkey offering support to strengthen Syria's government forces.
May Allah grant peace and unity to Syria and help its people overcome these challenges.
https://www.thenationalnews.co